The country’s Education Minister Gabriel Attal announced a few days ago that the kaftan-like garments most commonly worn by Muslims – known as abayas for women and girls and khamis for boys and men – would be banned when the new school year started.
President Macron now says that they “know there will be cases” with students who challenge the rule. but they will not be able to enter the classrooms. He emphasizes that “we will be relentless on the issue”.
If necessary, “special personnel” will be sent to “sensitive” schools to assist principals and teachers and conduct discussions with students and families, the president continues.
Political conflict in the matter
The announcement of the new rule came after a months-long debate in France about whether it should be allowed to wear the abaya in the country’s schools. The political right and far right have pushed to ban the garment, while the left has argued that a ban would curtail students’ civil rights.
Religious symbols and headdresses have been banned in French schools since 2004. The ban was extended in 2007 to include professions in the public sector. Since spring 2011, it is also forbidden to cover the face in public.