Following the ban on wearing traditional abayas (long and loose robe-like garments worn by some Muslim women) in public schools in France, the Cape Town Ulama Board has expressed its strong condemnation of the discriminatory move.
The authority body deemed the decision ‘Islamophobic’, adding that the decision is a clear violation of religious freedom and undermines the values of inclusivity and tolerance.
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‘I have decided that the abaya could no longer be worn in schools,’ France’s Education Minister Gabriel Attal said in an interview with TV channel TF1. ‘When you walk into a classroom, you shouldn’t be able to identify the pupil’s religion just by looking at them.’
The move allegedly aims to promote secularism in schools and is part of ongoing efforts to balance religious expression within the country’s public institutions.
‘The abaya is not only a religious garment but also a symbol of modesty and dignity for women. This ban not only infringes upon their right to practice their religion freely but also perpetuates stereotypes and prejudices against the broader conservative God-fearing humans,’ said the Cape Town Ulama Board in its condemnation statement.
In 2004, the country banned the wearing of headscarves in schools, and in 2010, it passed a ban on full-face veils in public, angering numerous members of its five million-strong Muslim community.
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Additionally, the Cape Town Ulama Board said it has reached out to the French Embassy in South Africa, requesting a meeting to express its concerns and seek intervention.
‘We believe in engaging in constructive dialogue to address this issue and find a resolution that respects the rights of Muslims in France,’ continued the statement.
Attal’s decision comes after months of debate over the wearing of abayas in French schools, where women have long been banned from wearing the hijab. Unlike Islamic headscarves, abayas occupied a grey area and faced no outright ban until now.
The State Council, France’s highest court for complaints against public authorities, rejected a request for an injunction against the ban, saying that ‘the ban has its legal foundation in a law passed in 2004 forbidding the wearing of “conspicuous” religious symbols in French schools’.
French public schools have forbidden the wearing of large crosses, Jewish kippas, Sikh turbans, Islamic headscarves, and, with the start of the new school year, abayas too.
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The Cape Town Ulama Board also called on the support of the international community, human rights organisations and individuals of conscience to stand in solidarity with Muslims in France and condemn this discriminatory ban.
‘As the Cape Town Ulama Board, we stand united with our fellow Muslims in France and around the world, and we will continue to advocate for religious rights and equality for all,’ the statement continued.
Last week, nearly 300 Muslim girls showed up to the first day of the new school year wearing abayas, reported Al Jazeera. Most agreed to change out of the robe, but 67 refused and were sent home.
‘We urge the French government to reconsider this ban and ensure that the rights and dignity of Muslim students are protected. We believe that diversity and multiculturalism should be embraced and celebrated, fostering a society where everyone can express their faith and identity without fear of discrimination or prejudice,’ added the statement.
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