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Ban on 'abayas' in French schools sparks debate on clothing

2023-08-31 19:45:15, Kosova & Bota CNA

The French government is banning students in state schools from wearing the abaya, the baggy, extra-long garment often worn by Muslim women. The decision has fueled a debate over whether clothing is an expression of cultural identity, religion, or just fashion.

The abaya is a kind of wide and long robe worn by some Muslim women and girls.

A ban on children wearing religious symbols in public schools is already in place in France, underpinning the country's strong approach to the principle of separation of state from religious institutions.

But updating the guidelines has been a difficult process as the country's Muslim population grows.

In 2004, France banned headscarves in schools.

The last movement with the abayas was received with applause by the representatives of the right in the country.

But some academics warn that the decision could backfire because it affects clothes they say are worn for fashion or as part of cultural identity, rather than religious.

"I think the government's intention is to start a new controversy that will anger the whole of French society and this is really a shame, because people are not fully aware of the problem, but they will start to see it with one eye negative these young girls, although the abaya is a form of adolescent expression that has no consequences. Most of all, it will hurt Muslims in general. They will once again feel stigmatized because of their faith religious and this is dangerous," says French sociologist Agnes De Feo.

Djennat is studying to become a teacher and did not feel comfortable revealing her full identity. She says she wears the dress at home and doesn't understand why they stopped her.

"There's no particular religious symbol, I don't think abayas have any religious symbolism. It's like wearing a dress, but that dress has a name. It's like wearing a floral dress. I can't tell you: you who are wearing this kind of dress, you should not be here", she says.

The French authorities' ban on religious symbols in schools has supporters and critics across the political spectrum and is a sensitive topic in the country. Some say that trying to make a distinction between what is worn for fashion or for religious beliefs can lead to profiling of students based on their identity./ VOA