France President Emmanuel Macron recently declared that he will enforce a ban on the wearing of Abayas (loose-fitting garment) in public schools. The statement was made during a speech held in the city of Lille, in which Macron expressed the need to defend the secular values of the French Republic.
This announcement has caused a great deal of uproar among Muslims worldwide, as the Abaya is an essential part of Muslim religious clothing. Macron’s stance has been further aggravated by his comments that the use of a hijab, an article of clothing traditionally mentioned in the Qu’ran, has no place in public schools.
Macron has made it clear that the enforcement of the Abaya ban would be uncompromising. He noted that the enforcement of secular values in France is not meant to be directed against any religion, but rather to serve the interest of the Republic.
In response to criticism, Macron has expressed that the French Republic’s founding principles are based on secularism, which seeks to maintain the equality and nondiscrimination of all citizens in the public sphere, regardless of their religious beliefs. He stated that this secularism must be respected in all public places, including schools.
Macron also noted that he is not against symbols of religious affiliation, and that as long as they are not violent and maintain the spirit of the French Republic’s values, they are allowed. However, he concluded that clothing that deeply marks our differences, such as the Abaya, should not be allowed in public schools.
Ultimately, Macron’s uncompromising declaration has left many feeling that the ban of Abayas in French public schools is a step in the wrong direction. While respecting the Republic’s secular values, it is clear that a balance must be found between religious beliefs and citizenship. Only then can France be seen as a nation that respects all citizens, regardless of religion or background.
