Paris
France’s lower house of parliament this week overwhelmingly approved a law banning the wearing of religious accessories in public schools. The law, which has drawn intense international criticism, is aimed primarily at Muslim head scarves on girls, but it also forbids students to wear Jewish yarmulkes, large crosses, or Sikh turbans. The government says the law is needed to protect France’s secular traditions and to ward off Islamic fundamentalism, but religious leaders are appalled. “We are speechless,” said Sikh activist Mejindarpal Kaur. “We are here in the 21st century looking for rights that we thought we had years ago.” If the Senate also approves the law, as expected, the ban will take effect in September. France has a large Muslim minority, rapidly approaching 10 percent of the population.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The decline of the contraceptive pillIn the Spotlight Fears of the pill's side effects, stoked by social media, behind switch to fertility trackers – or no contraception at all
-
Explorations Company: a Kenya safari adventure beyond the expectedThe Week Recommends Experience Kenya's wild beauty on a safari that combines close wildlife encounters with conservation and community initiatives
-
Why has Tulip Siddiq resigned?In Depth Economic secretary to the Treasury named in anti-corruption investigations in Bangladesh
