France’s top administrative court has upheld a government ban on the wearing of traditional abaya – long and loose garments worn by some Muslim women – in public schools, dismissing complaints that the ban was discriminatory and could incite hatred.
The State Council, France’s highest court for complaints against public authorities, said on Thursday that it had rejected a request for an injunction against the ban.
Ahead of the court’s ruling on Thursday, France’s Council of the Muslim Faith, established to represent Muslims before the government, warned that banning the garments could create “an elevated risk of discrimination” and said it was considering lodging its own court complaint with the Council.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s government announced last month that it was banning the abaya and qamis – also a long, loose-fitting garment worn by some Muslim men – in schools, claiming the attire broke the rules on secularism in education. Muslim headscarves have already been banned on the grounds that they constitute a display of religious affiliation.
Action for the Rights of Muslims (ADM) – an association representing Muslims – filed the motion with the State Council seeking an injunction against the ban saying it was discriminatory and could incite hatred against Muslims.
Source : Al Jazeera
