France continues to face backlash over its government’s decision to ban the wearing of abayas in schools, citing them as attire conflicting with the principles of secularism in the country.
The French Council of Islamic Religion views the decision as “arbitrary,” while the French Minister of Education has called for a uniform dress code in government schools.
The council points out that this decision creates “high risks of discrimination” against Muslims and emphasizes that the lack of a clear definition of dress creates a “vague situation and a lack of legal security.”
Furthermore, they clarify that abayas can sometimes be considered “Islamic” and, therefore, prohibited, while in other instances, they are deemed “non-Islamic” and allowed.
As a result, the council expresses concern about “arbitrary discretion,” as assessment criteria for girls’ attire are based on “supposed origin, last name, or skin color.”
