Muslim activism up

last updated 8 January 2015

Le Bourget, France

Anger over France’s new ban on religious symbols in public schools brought a record number of attendees to the annual conference of the Union of Islamic Organizations of France. At least 15,000 people showed up each day of the four-day expo last week, up from 8,000 last year. Union president Lhaj Thami Breze said the group would spearhead resistance to the new policy, which bars Muslim girls from wearing head scarves. He urged girls to push the limits of the ban by choosing “discreet headwear,” such as bandannas. Some Muslim women’s groups, though, said no compromise was possible. They called for donations to send girls to private schools.