PARIS: The French government has decided to ban wearing Abayas in schools by Muslim women, said the education minister on Sunday.
Gabriel Attal, justifying the ban, told media that Abaya (a long robe to cover the whole body) worn by some Muslim women violates the education laws of France.
He added that Muslim women would not be allowed to wear the garment in future. Attal said that he would give clear directions to the school heads nationwide. The schools would be opening in France from September 4 after vacations.
Earlier, it was reported that Muslim girls have increased wearing abayas in French schools. The development started a debate in the country, with some demanding the government to ban abayas in schools.
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In 2004, the French government prohibited wearing clothes or symbols linked with religions in educational institutions, such as Islamic headscarves, large crosses and Jewish kippas.
Islamophobia on rise in Europe
In 2020 Charlie Hebdo, a French newspaper published cartoons of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) stirring anger in the entire Muslim world.
Europe has recently seen an increase in Islamophobic incidents. Islamophobic individuals and groups in some North European states have repeatedly carried out Quran desecrations, drawing anger from Muslim nations and the rest of the world.
