(Reuters) The French government’s decision to ban children from wearing the abaya, the loose-fitting, full-length robes worn by some Muslim women, in state-run schools drew applause on Monday from the right, but also criticism.
France has enforced a ban on religious symbols in state schools since 2004, to uphold its strict brand of secularism, known as “laicite.” The topic is a sensitive one, regularly triggering political tension in the country.
“Our schools are continually put under test, and over the past months, breaches to laicite have increased considerably, in particular with (pupils) wearing religious attire like abayas and kameez,” Education Minister Gabriel Attal told a news conference to explain Sunday’s ban.
The head of the conservative Les Republicains party, Eric Ciotti, was quick to welcome the move, which he said was long overdue.
