Students at public French schools were already banned in 2023 from wearing the abaya in school, a loose-fitting garment worn by some Muslim women. According to the new proposal from the Renaissance party, girls under 15 years old are now to be banned from wearing hijab in public places, such as outdoors, in cafes, and in shops.
The hijab is, according to the party, a problem when it comes to equality and protection of children. In addition to the proposed ban in public places, the party, led by former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, proposes that it should also be a crime to force minor daughters to wear a veil.
For me, it's about protecting childhood, protecting minors, says Attal in French media.
Heated debate
The debate about Islam's influence in France has gained momentum after several deadly Islamist terrorist attacks have shaken the country. The hijab is seen by some as a sign of increased Islamization. Others believe that it is simply a way to exercise one's religion, and that everyone should be allowed to wear what they want.
This week, President Emmanuel Macron also ordered the government to draft proposals on how to handle the religious and political movement Muslim Brotherhood and the spread of political Islamism in France. The announcement from the Élysée Palace came after a security meeting due to a report warning that the Muslim Brotherhood poses "a threat to national cohesion" in the country, reports AP.
According to the report, there is a risk that the movement's influence will undermine "society's structure and republican institutions".
Accused of passivity
Far-right politician Marine Le Pen accuses the government of passivity, that the proposal has taken too long.
"For 15 years, we have warned about the Islamic fundamentalism's entry. For 15 years, we have been told that this is false", she writes on X.
But left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon warns the president and his security council that "Islamophobia" has gone too far.
"You will destroy our country. This type of method has already been applied before, first against Protestants and Jews. This leads directly to a brutal inquisition against individuals and is catastrophic for the country's unity", he writes on X.
