Lawyer tells French court: Ban on abaya violates secularism

Lawyer says ban is Islamophobic and is mainly directed against young women who are Muslims or perceived to be Muslims

PARIS, France – A French court is hearing an appeal against a ban on the abaya, a loose-fitting, floor-length garment worn by some Muslim schoolgirls, in schools.

A lawyer representing three unions of educational institutions in France argued that the ban violates the principle of secularism because it is not a religious garment.

She also cited secular historians, experts on Islamic culture and religious authorities to support her claims.

The lawyer also said that the ban is Islamophobic and is mainly directed against young women who are Muslims or perceived to be Muslims.

The court upheld the government’s abaya ban in its September ruling, declaring it legal.

The Sud Education Paris, La Voix Lyceenne and Le Poing Leve Lycee unions in France have appealed against the ruling.

The union’s lawyer, Clara Gandin, asked for a stay of the earlier orders during the court hearing.

Gandin told Turkiye’s Anadolu news agency that French Education Minister Gabriel Attal was positioning himself as a religious authority by determining whether a garment was religious or not.

Ariane Anemoyannis, a student and member of the Le Poing Leve union who attended the hearing, called the ban a “scandal”

Feminist and lawyer Yelena Mandengue said that with the abaya ban, the government continues to pursue a policy that violates women’s rights.

The controversial move sparked a backlash against the government, which has been criticized in recent years for targeting Muslims with its statements and policies.