In a move to update its guidelines for dealing with the growing Muslim minority in France Education Minister Gabriel Attal announced on Sunday just before the start of the new school year that wearing abayas would be prohibited for Muslim girls in public schools.
Education Minister Gabriel Atal with students in France-Image Source: Sky News
France has enforced a strict ban on religious symbols in public schools since it abolished laws dating back to the 19th century that gave Catholicism influence over government education. The country is now working hard to update its guidelines to accommodate the increasing Muslim minority population.
The authorities had previously banned the hijab in schools in 2004 and implemented a ban on wearing the niqab in public places in 2010, which sparked anger among some members of the Islamic community who make up around 5 million people.
During an interview with TF1 television channel Minister Attal stated “I have decided that wearing abayas in schools is no longer possible.” He also added “When you enter a classroom you should not be able to identify the students’ religious beliefs just by looking at them.”
