France debates increasing use of abaya by girls in schools

PARIS – The wearing of the abaya, a robe-like loose dress, by Muslim girls in schools has sparked debate in France.

Although wearing the abaya in schools is not banned, some believe the dress violates secularism.

The issue was reignited in recent months after several schools reported an increase in the number of girls wearing abayas.

In an editorial, the French newspaper Le Parisien called the abaya a Trojan horse for Islamist entry.

The French government has stated that it is committed to secularism in schools, but has not yet taken action to ban the abaya.

Experts say the debate over the abaya is likely to continue, as it raises complex questions about religion, culture, and identity.

A law enacted in 2004 prohibited the wearing of clothing or symbols that indicate a person’s religion in educational institutions.

It banned large crosses, Jewish kippahs, and Islamic headscarves, among other things.

Unlike headscarves, abayas, which are worn to conform to Islamic notions of modest dress, are in a gray area and are not directly prohibited.

The abaya is not worn for religious reasons alone, but as a fashion statement as well.

Eric Ciotti, chairman of the right-leaning Republican Party, has also called for a ban on abayas. He said legal ambiguities are benefiting Islamists.

Dounia Bouzar, a former member of the National Observatory of Secularism in France, said online platforms such as TikTok would encourage the popularity of abayas.

He said this satisfies the psychological need of teenage girls to be noticed.