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France - Bans women wearing headscarfs, but allows them to protest topless in public

So much whatboutery here I'm laughing!

But let's break down your nonsensical points.

First, how many Muslim countries are there? And then name how many of them have COMPULSORY niqab? Not even the Taliban led Afghanistan has that, although they mandate the scarf in public.
Plus, no idea why you're mentioning Daesh which has never been a legitimate government and even at its peak only had about 20,000 members according to the US government....whereas there are almost 2 billion muslims on this planet so your bias is already showing.

On top of all that, there is a fundamental difference between a Muslim state and a liberal state. The Muslim state never allows anyone to dress however they like, they have a set of regulations which are followed either socially or imposed byt he government (this is very very very rare).

Liberal societies such as France however are built on the concept of "do whatever you like as long as it does not harm anyone" and the French, in particular when it comes to women have stated "wear whatever you like"...so if a French woman wants to wear more clothes it is a problem but not less? Not only are they going against the foundations of their own liberal values and society but against their own stated aims. This is nothing less than bigotry against Muslims because I don't see any laws against French nuns dressing the way they do.

You have started off with oriental nonsense and ended without even knowing the difference between a liberal state and a Muslim one.
First - Slow down with the attacks yet buddy. It is not nonsensical or whataboutery just because you are unable to grasp the context yet. Perhaps I did not explain it well enough. I'm only hoping for a discussion not some name calling argument.

#1 - I'm comparing the reactions and perceptions of muslim communities (my family members included) when it comes to governments controlling dress codes one way or the other. It does not matter if that government is liberal or conservative or anything else, who cares whatever form of government that indulges in oppressing/controlling personal dress codes! The community remains relatively silent in one case but is very vocal with the other. I'm merely questioning the dichotomy of the reactions within the community.

#2 - You are correct, there does not seem to be compulsory niqab but countries do have compulsory hijab as of today (Afghanistan and Iran come to mind). Please see this full list for dress codes across all muslim countries - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_veiling_practices_by_country - many of these are just practices which is fine but some are also mandated by government.

#3 - I mentioned Daesh and Taliban as a case in point of extreme government imposed control on personal clothing/grooming that one can argue may not even be strictly Islamic. I never see any vocal protest against Taliban's control among muslim communities as we see for France. Saying "France is a liberal democracy so it is ok to only voice against them while we can conveniently ignore much harsher conservative theocracies because they are not liberal democracies" - is an absolute weak argument fueled by double standards and we all know that.

I'm only questioning the double standards in the community when it comes to vocal opposition against government imposed dress codes.
 
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So much whatboutery here I'm laughing!

But let's break down your nonsensical points.

First, how many Muslim countries are there? And then name how many of them have COMPULSORY niqab? Not even the Taliban led Afghanistan has that, although they mandate the scarf in public.
Plus, no idea why you're mentioning Daesh which has never been a legitimate government and even at its peak only had about 20,000 members according to the US government....whereas there are almost 2 billion muslims on this planet so your bias is already showing.

On top of all that, there is a fundamental difference between a Muslim state and a liberal state. The Muslim state never allows anyone to dress however they like, they have a set of regulations which are followed either socially or imposed byt he government (this is very very very rare).

Liberal societies such as France however are built on the concept of "do whatever you like as long as it does not harm anyone" and the French, in particular when it comes to women have stated "wear whatever you like"...so if a French woman wants to wear more clothes it is a problem but not less? Not only are they going against the foundations of their own liberal values and society but against their own stated aims. This is nothing less than bigotry against Muslims because I don't see any laws against French nuns dressing the way they do.

You have started off with oriental nonsense and ended without even knowing the difference between a liberal state and a Muslim one.
Afghanistan does not have a scarf policy. You have to wear the chowder. Same as iran. I believe saudi it’s abaya mandatory. Maybe mbs changed that. Pakistan in fata under imran they made it a law to have headscarf in public schools.
 
First - Slow down with the attacks yet buddy. It is not nonsensical or whataboutery just because you are unable to grasp the context yet. Perhaps I did not explain it well enough. I'm only hoping for a discussion not some name calling argument.

#1 - I'm comparing the reactions and perceptions of muslim communities (my family members included) when it comes to governments controlling dress codes one way or the other. It does not matter if that government is liberal or conservative or anything else, who cares whatever form of government that indulges in oppressing/controlling personal dress codes! The community remains relatively silent in one case but is very vocal with the other. I'm merely questioning the dichotomy of the reactions within the community.

#2 - You are correct, there does not seem to be compulsory niqab but countries do have compulsory hijab as of today (Afghanistan and Iran come to mind). Please see this full list for dress codes across all muslim countries - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_veiling_practices_by_country - many of these are just practices which is fine but some are also mandated by government.

#3 - I mentioned Daesh and Taliban as a case in point of extreme government imposed control on personal clothing/grooming that one can argue may not even be strictly Islamic. I never see any vocal protest against Taliban's control among muslim communities as we see for France. Saying "France is a liberal democracy so it is ok to only voice against them while we can conveniently ignore much harsher conservative theocracies because they are not liberal democracies" - is an absolute weak argument fueled by double standards and we all know that.

I'm only questioning the double standards in the community when it comes to vocal opposition against government imposed dress codes.
You missed the point so massive I think you ended up on another planet :yk

I'll make it very succinct:

The western, liberal world claims it is ok to do whatever you want, as long as you enjoy yourself and harm no one else. This is known as the harm principle and forms the ideological basis of western societies. As a result of that we have modern western legislature. With regards to France and the ban of the niqab, hijab and now the abaya (Which is just a loose fitting dress), we are told, constantly that the west allows women (and men) to dress how they like as long as they dont walk around naked.

So based on THEIR OWN PRINCIPLES, how do they justify the banning of any clothing yet allow their streets to have naked women protesting or women with menstrual blood dripping down their legs to protest pro feminist values? How do they allow women to walk around the streets with their bums hanging out and their breasts showing? But when a woman does the opposite it is seen as unacceptable to French society...although, and I repeat, THEIR OWN PRINCIPLE allows it. Liberal societies such as France, USA, UK, Germany also profess "religious freedom" based on the idea that everyone from every religion should be able to practice their faith as they see fit.

For Muslims, the vast majority of the global Muslim community has never and will never adhere to the harm principle and liberal legislature. When it comes to clothing modest clothing based on Islamic principles of loose fitting clothing, covering of hair for women etc is what's promoted. Muslims have never claimed "wear whatever you want". In terms of religious freedom, this is not absolute either and Muslims do not claim this also.

So if there is any double standard it is that of France and the western governments who are going AGAINST THEIR OWN PRINCIPLES which is what Muslims who are aggrieved by this are stating. They same standards are not applied to Catholic nuns (you ignored this point completely) or to monks (have you seen how they dress?) or to the orthodox Jewish communities or to Hindus etc etc. I could go on and on. This is a clear attack on Muslims and their principles in a society that claims to allow everything. If you have a problem with that, pick it up with Macron not Muslims.

Final bit - you must live in a bubble if you think only Muslims have protested this, many non-Muslims, particular those who are experts of law have also protested it. The previous head of the EU legal panel, a British judge who was removed due to Brexit actually wanted to rule in favour of those two Muslim women in Germany who were stopped from wearing a headscarf to work.

It's not an insult if I say it pays to be educated on a topic before actually trying to impose an argument on it.

If you were simply asking the question, then it has been answered.
 
You missed the point so massive I think you ended up on another planet :yk

I'll make it very succinct:

The western, liberal world claims it is ok to do whatever you want, as long as you enjoy yourself and harm no one else. This is known as the harm principle and forms the ideological basis of western societies. As a result of that we have modern western legislature. With regards to France and the ban of the niqab, hijab and now the abaya (Which is just a loose fitting dress), we are told, constantly that the west allows women (and men) to dress how they like as long as they dont walk around naked.

So based on THEIR OWN PRINCIPLES, how do they justify the banning of any clothing yet allow their streets to have naked women protesting or women with menstrual blood dripping down their legs to protest pro feminist values? How do they allow women to walk around the streets with their bums hanging out and their breasts showing? But when a woman does the opposite it is seen as unacceptable to French society...although, and I repeat, THEIR OWN PRINCIPLE allows it. Liberal societies such as France, USA, UK, Germany also profess "religious freedom" based on the idea that everyone from every religion should be able to practice their faith as they see fit.

For Muslims, the vast majority of the global Muslim community has never and will never adhere to the harm principle and liberal legislature. When it comes to clothing modest clothing based on Islamic principles of loose fitting clothing, covering of hair for women etc is what's promoted. Muslims have never claimed "wear whatever you want". In terms of religious freedom, this is not absolute either and Muslims do not claim this also.

So if there is any double standard it is that of France and the western governments who are going AGAINST THEIR OWN PRINCIPLES which is what Muslims who are aggrieved by this are stating. They same standards are not applied to Catholic nuns (you ignored this point completely) or to monks (have you seen how they dress?) or to the orthodox Jewish communities or to Hindus etc etc. I could go on and on. This is a clear attack on Muslims and their principles in a society that claims to allow everything. If you have a problem with that, pick it up with Macron not Muslims.

Final bit - you must live in a bubble if you think only Muslims have protested this, many non-Muslims, particular those who are experts of law have also protested it. The previous head of the EU legal panel, a British judge who was removed due to Brexit actually wanted to rule in favour of those two Muslim women in Germany who were stopped from wearing a headscarf to work.

It's not an insult if I say it pays to be educated on a topic before actually trying to impose an argument on it.

If you were simply asking the question, then it has been answered.
Sorry but this is not a valid answer by any means and I do believe that you have missed my point entirely and have ended up on another planet (your words). You even made a ridiculous wrong claim that Afghanistan has some scarf policy and I had proved you wrong with valid proof.

My question is not about the discrepancies of liberal or conservative countries (entire another discussion). My question is not about the diversity in demographic segments that are protesting this (another separate discussion). You seem to be spraying bullets in so many pointless directions here.

My question was about the discrepancy in the reaction of the muslim community in protesting and the double standards between government restrictions imposed on Islamic clothing practices and government restrictions on women to wear certain clothes (be it niqab, or hijab or scarf or some napkin). Your answer seems to be along the lines of "muslims protest only one side of it because they want to conveniently ignore the human right transgressions for things adhering to perceived Islamic values and they only selectively (also implied selfishly) protest against things that are directly impinging upon their values or way of life".

This answer or reasoning or inference with all due respect is utter BS unless of course you are deliberately trying to paint all protesting muslim voices as self centered and hypocritical which I sincerely hope is not what you meant.
 
France is not a Muslim country. Important thing is they are not forcing Muslim ladies to pose nude. If it is that terrible then simply leave that land for Saudi, UAE or some Muslim war zone. The law of the country is always supreme.
 
Sorry but this is not a valid answer by any means and I do believe that you have missed my point entirely and have ended up on another planet (your words). You even made a ridiculous wrong claim that Afghanistan has some scarf policy and I had proved you wrong with valid proof.

My question is not about the discrepancies of liberal or conservative countries (entire another discussion). My question is not about the diversity in demographic segments that are protesting this (another separate discussion). You seem to be spraying bullets in so many pointless directions here.

My question was about the discrepancy in the reaction of the muslim community in protesting and the double standards between government restrictions imposed on Islamic clothing practices and government restrictions on women to wear certain clothes (
be it niqab, or hijab or scarf or some napkin). Your answer seems to be along the lines of "muslims protest only one side of it because they want to conveniently ignore the human right transgressions for things adhering to perceived Islamic values and they only selectively (also implied selfishly) protest against things that are directly impinging upon their values or way of life".

This answer or reasoning or inference with all due respect is utter BS unless of course you are deliberately trying to paint all protesting muslim voices as self centered and hypocritical which I sincerely hope is not what you meant.

You are always going to get discrepancy in a community, some will think like you, others will think something entirely different. So what is your point exactly? That all Muslims are hypocritical, or just the ones arguing in this thread?
 
You are always going to get discrepancy in a community, some will think like you, others will think something entirely different. So what is your point exactly? That all Muslims are hypocritical, or just the ones arguing in this thread?

Why would I say all Muslims are hypocritical? Ridiculous set of words to put in my mouth.

But since you asked - the people arguing in this forum/thread that are so vehement in calling out France and then either go silent or do illogical mental gymnastics to justify their hypocrisy when the reverse is called out.
 
France is not a Muslim country. Important thing is they are not forcing Muslim ladies to pose nude. If it is that terrible then simply leave that land for Saudi, UAE or some Muslim war zone. The law of the country is always supreme.
THIS! +1
 
Why would I say all Muslims are hypocritical? Ridiculous set of words to put in my mouth.

But since you asked - the people arguing in this forum/thread that are so vehement in calling out France and then either go silent or do illogical mental gymnastics to justify their hypocrisy when the reverse is called out.

That's what I thought. You are talking about posters not the general population. Just wanted to clarify that.
 
No restrictions on hijab in Paris 2024 Games’ athletes village: IOC

Athletes can wear a hijab in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games athletes’ village without any restriction, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday, days after France’s sports minister banned it for the host country’s athletes.

The Olympic body also said it needed to better understand the situation in France and had been in contact with the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF).

French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said on Sunday that French athletes would be barred from wearing a hijab during the Paris Games to respect principles of secularism.

“For the Olympic Village, the IOC rules apply,” an IOC spokesperson said. “There are no restrictions on wearing the hijab or any other religious or cultural attire.”

The vast majority of the approximately 10,000 athletes at the Olympic Games reside in apartments in the Olympic Village and share common spaces, including dining halls and recreational areas.

“When it comes to competitions, the regulations set by the relevant International Federation apply,” the IOC spokesperson said.

The sports competitions at the Olympics are organised and overseen by the individual international sports federations.

There are 32 sports on the programme of the Paris Games.

“Since this French regulation relates to the members of the French team only, we are in contact with the CNOSF to further understand the situation regarding the French athletes,” the spokesperson said.

Home to one of Europe’s largest Muslim minorities, France has implemented laws designed to protect its strict form of secularism, known as “laicité”, which President Emmanuel Macron has said is under threat from Islamism.

Some Muslim associations and human rights groups allege those laws have targeted Muslims, chipped away at democratic protections and left them vulnerable to abuse.

The French decision to bar its athletes from wearing a hijab was criticised by the United Nations human rights office this week.


Dawn
 
I think that France should respect the right of Muslim women to wear or not wear the Hijab in public places. I believe that this is a matter of personal choice and freedom that should not be interfered with by the state or by anyone else.
 
I think that France should respect the right of Muslim women to wear or not wear the Hijab in public places. I believe that this is a matter of personal choice and freedom that should not be interfered with by the state or by anyone else.
Agreed. Would you also agee that what is happening in iran is also wrong ?
 
France bans all pro-Palestinian demonstrations
The French government has banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin warned that foreign nationals who break the rules would be "systematically" deported, while President Emmanuel Macron called for unity.

The move comes as European governments fear a rise in antisemitism triggered by the Israel-Hamas war.

Despite the ban, a large crowd of pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested in Paris on Thursday.

Police made 10 arrests and used water cannon to disperse the 3,000-strong rally at Place de la République, where demonstrators chanted "Israel murderer" and "Palestine will win" and waved Palestinian flags.

Mr Darmanin, who ordered the ban, said those who defy it should be arrested "because they are susceptible to disrupt public order.''

But Pro-Palestinian groups said it risked threatening freedom of expression and pledged to continue demonstrating in support of the Palestinian people.

Charlotte Vautier, who attended the rally, told Reuters News Agency: "We live in a country of civil law, a country where we have the right to take a stand and to demonstrate.

"[It is unfair] to forbid for one side and to authorise for the other."

Meanwhile, police in Germany's capital Berlin have also banned planned pro-Palestinian demonstrations, citing the risk of antisemitic statements and glorification of violence.

Police said around 60 demonstrators complied with an order to leave Potsdamer Platz on Thursday.

In a video address, President Macron urged the French people to stay united, saying "let's not add national divisions to international divisions".

He described Hamas as "a terrorist organisation that wants the death of the people of Israel".

Some 13 French citizens have been confirmed dead in Hamas' attack on Israel on Saturday.

President Macron said 17 French nationals were missing and were likely among the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, adding: "France is doing everything it can alongside Israel and our partners to bring them home".

Four children are among the missing.

Israel, he said, had the right to defend itself by eliminating terrorists, but "has to preserve civilian lives because it's the duty of democracies".

"The only response to terrorism is one that is strong but fair," he said.

France has a Jewish community of almost 500,000, the largest in Europe. France's Muslim community is also among Europe's largest - an estimated five million.

 
Employees can be banned from wearing headscarves, top EU court rules

Employees can be banned from wearing signs of religious belief such as the Islamic headscarf in EU member states, the bloc’s top court ruled on Tuesday.

The wearing of the hijab has divided Europe for years and the issue came before the courts again in Belgium, after an employee of the eastern municipality of Ans was told she could not wear one while at work.

Lawyers for the woman, who performs her duties as head of office primarily without being in contact with users of the public service, argued that her right to freedom of religion had been infringed.

The Ans municipality changed its terms of employment to require its workers to observe strict neutrality by not wearing overt signs of religious or ideological belief after the woman was told not to wear a headscarf.
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) said authorities in member states had a margin of discretion in designing the neutrality of public service they intended to promote.

However, this objective must be pursued in a “consistent and systematic manner” and measures must be limited to what is strictly necessary. It was for a national court to verify that these requirements are complied with.

The CJEU ruled for the first time on women’s wearing of the headscarf in 2017, when the Luxembourg court found that the garments could be banned, but only as part of a general policy barring all religious and political symbols.

The judgment also stipulated that customers could simply not demand that workers remove headscarves if the company they were working for had no policy barring religious symbols.

Rightwing politicians across Europe welcomed the then long-awaited judgment, whose consequences were felt in elections in the Netherlands and France, during the race to succeed former president François Hollande. Hijabs have been prohibited in state-run schools in France since 2004. The wearing of face coverings such as burqas is also banned.

 
France makes their own rules. If you don’t like it, you are free to move to a country that respects and promotes your culture and beliefs.

No foreigner who live in Muslim countries complains about mandatory hijabs or niqabs in Afghanistan or Arab nations. You respect the local law and traditions.
 
In France, there's a ban on women wearing headscarves, sparking concerns about religious freedom. While secularism is valued, it's vital to respect individual choices. Allowing topless protests but restricting religious attire seems inconsistent and might not treat everyone fairly. Striking a balance is essential to uphold personal freedoms and the values of a diverse society.
 
French football star Karim Benzema has filed a defamation lawsuit against France's interior minister for accusing him of having links with the Muslim Brotherhood, local media reports.

Gérald Darmanin said in October that Mr Benzema "has a notorious link" with the Sunni Muslim Islamist group.

The comment "undermines" his honour and reputation, Mr Benzema's lawyer said.

The Muslim Brotherhood is banned in several countries, including Egypt, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

Mr Darmanin's comment in October came after the player tweeted his support for the people of Gaza as "victims again of unjust bombardments which spare neither women nor children".

Noting his failure to express similar sympathy for the estimated 1,300 Israeli victims that Hamas killed on 7 October, Mr Darmanin said the former French striker was "well-known for his links with the Muslim Brotherhood".

"We are fighting the hydra that is the Muslim Brotherhood, because it creates an atmosphere of jihadism," the politician told conservative TV channel CNews.

Karim Benzema, 36, who plays in Saudi Arabia and is a Muslim, quickly issued a denial and threatened legal action against the minister for slander.

In his 92-page complaint, reported widely in French media on Tuesday, he says he "has never had the slightest link with the Muslim Brotherhood organisation, nor to (his) knowledge with anyone who claims to be a member of it".

The former Real Madrid star added: "I am aware of the extent to which, because of my notoriety, I am being used in political games, which are all the more scandalous given that the dramatic events since October 7 deserve something quite different from this type of statement."

His lawyer Hugues Vigier told French outlet RTL that the footballer is the victim of "political exploitation" and accused the interior minister of "sowing division in France".

Mr Darmanin is yet to comment on the complaint.

He has previously targeted Karim Benzema for other reasons, including his refusal to sing the French national anthem and his "proselytising on social networks".

The Muslim Brotherhood was founded about 80 years ago in Egypt. It has provided the rationale for many modern-day Islamist organisations, including Hamas.

Primarily an ideological movement with no formal structure, and while it is banned in many countries, it is not restricted in most of the European Union.

The group's influence in Europe is mainly seen via front organisations which campaign for Islamic causes like the right of women to wear head-coverings.

Source: BBC

 
Tunisian imam expelled from France vows to appeal decision

A Tunisian imam expelled from France for alleged hate speech said on Friday he would take legal action in a bid to overturn the decision.

Mahjoub Mahjoubi, from the town of Bagnols-sur-Ceze in the south of France, denounced his removal as "arbitrary".

The cleric's decision came a day he was expelled from France for "radicalism" and "unacceptable remarks", French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said in a statement posted on X on Thursday.

"The radical Imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi has just been expelled from the national territory, less than 12 hours after his arrest. We will not let people get away with anything," said Darmanin.

The 52-year-old was arrested and then deported to Tunisia on Thursday, where he arrived shortly before midnight aboard a flight from Paris.

Mahjoubi had been in France since the 1980s and is married with five children.

While all of his children are French citizens, Mahjoubi had a residency permit in France.

His permit has been cancelled by Darmanin.

The official order for Mahjoubi's expulsion, seen by AFP, said that in sermons in February he had given a "retrograde, intolerant and violent" image of Islam that would encourage behaviour against French values, discrimination against women, "tensions with the Jewish community" and "jihadist radicalisation".

The imam also referred to "the Jewish people as the enemy", according to the order, which said Mahjoubi called for "the destruction of Western society".

The imam was also accused of sharing a video in which he described the "tricolour" – without specifying if he meant the French flag – as "satanic" and of "no value with Allah".

Mahjoubi defending himself, saying it had been a "slip of the tongue" and that he was referring to rivalries between football supporters of different Maghrebi nations during the recent African Cup of Nations.

"I will fight to return to France where I have lived for 40 years," the imam told AFP in his in-laws' house in Soliman, 30 kilometres (19 miles) east of Tunis.

Mahjoubi, who runs a construction company, said his family, including his youngest child who is in hospital for cancer treatment, depended entirely on him.

"My lawyer is going to take legal action in France if the court does not grant me justice, I will appeal, and then I will appeal to the European Court" of Human Rights, he added.

"I did not insult the Jewish community, nor the flag of France," he said.

France24

 
Funny how some muslims expect everyone to respect their culture, when outsiders come to their country but can't give the same courtesy to western countries they immigrate to.
 
French Football Federation Stirs Backlash for Punishing Ramadan-Observing Player

The French Football Federation (FFF) has sparked controversy by reportedly sending Mahamadou Diawara, who was initially called up to the U19 team, back to Lyon after he abstained from fasting during the national team’s gathering.

Last week, Diawara was among the players Bernard Diomède called up to join his squad for the Euro U19 Elite Tour 2024. However, the midfielder was recently spotted training with Olympique Lyonnais, raising questions about whether he is still part of the French U19 team.

Sources quoted by converging media in France said that Diawara’s decision not to abandon fasting led to his removal from the squad as he refused to comply with the FFF’s manifestly hostile position on players’ Ramadan fasting.

Philippe Diallo, President of the FFF, told LeFigaro today that the federation’s position is “within the framework of neutrality.”

“I reaffirmed that it is within this framework of neutrality that our selections function concretely, which means that we do not modify the conditions of practice for our selections for religious reasons,” he said.

RMC Sport reported that it had reached out to the FFF and Lyon for comment on Diawara's case, but did not receive a response from either party.

France has frequently faced criticism for its position on not allowing football players to fast during the holy month. This issue sparked debates regarding freedom and cultural accommodation within the European country.

Despite the objection, France opposed the implementation of breaks during matches for Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan.

SOURCE: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/20...cklash-for-punishing-ramadan-observing-player
 
France to sue student it says falsely accused principal of forcibly removing headscarf

A French high school student is being sued by the government for falsely accusing her former principal of assaulting her after he made her remove her headscarf on school premises, the country’s prime minister said Wednesday.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the government would “always stand with these officials, those who are on the front line faced with these breaches of secularism, these attempts of Islamist penetration in our education establishments.”

He made the comments in an interview with French broadcaster TF1.

Secularism in France, particularly involving the country’s Muslim population, Europe’s largest, has long been a flashpoint. Last year France banned the abaya – a long, robe-like garment often worn by Muslim women – despite warnings its prohibition was discriminatory.

The teacher had asked the young woman to remove her headscarf while on the premises of the Maurice Ravel Lycée school in Paris, in line with French law, which bans religious symbols from state institutions.

The student refused and “looked to intimidate” the school principal by accusing him of having physically assaulted her while removing her headscarf, Attal said.

According to CNN affiliate BFMTV, she accused the teacher of grabbing her shoulder.

The incident happened on February 28 and involved a student over the age of 18, BFMTV reported.

Attal said that her accusations were shared on social media, leading to “unacceptable” death threats against the school principal.

Two people believed to be responsible for the death threats have since been detained, the education ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

The principal was due to retire in June and, upon security advice, took early retirement following the incident, Attal said, adding that the student had also left the school.Enter your email to sign up for CNN's "Meanwhile in China" Newsletter.

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Paris prosecutors found the young woman’s complaint to be unjustified and didn’t pursue a prosecution, Attal said, following which, the government decided to sue the girl for falsely accusing the principal.

“We mustn’t let anything slide, and I will never let anything slide on this question,” he added.

Two high-profile murders of teachers have heightened fears over the Islamist threat in schools.

A teacher was killed and several others wounded last year in a knife attack in Arras, northern France, with the suspect reportedly shouting “Allahu Akbar.” In 2020, Samuel Paty was beheaded after displaying the controversial Charlie Hebdo cartoons to his students during a lesson.

The country has pursued a series of controversial bans and restrictions on items of customarily Islamic dress in recent years, which have frequently drawn the ire of Muslim countries and international agencies

French President Emmanuel Macron has previously said that “religious symbols of any kind have no place” in French schools under the country’s principle of “laïcité,” which translates roughly to “secularism” in English.

France’s crackdown isn’t limited to the education sector. In 2022, lawmakers backed a ban on wearing the hijab and other “conspicuous religious symbols” in sports competitions. The amendment was proposed by the right-wing Les Républicains party, which argued the hijab could risk the safety of athletes wearing it while playing sports.

 
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Suspect arrested after two French schoolchildren stabbed, local authority says​


A suspect has been arrested after two French children were stabbed on Thursday near a school in the town of Souffelweyersheim in eastern France near Strasbourg, the local authority said.

The two children were taken to a hospital emergency ward, the local authority added, without elaborating.

 
France bans hijab for French athletes at Paris 2024

French athletes have been barred from wearing the hijab, or Muslim headscarf, at the Paris Olympic Games.

France imposed the ban on its national team players as it prepares to host the Games from July 26 to August 11 and the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.

French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera initially announced the ban on September 24, 2023.

A few days later, Oudea-Castera, who was a guest of the French political show Dimanche en Politique, confirmed that no woman in her country's delegation would wear a headscarf during the Paris Olympics.

Following the announcement of the ban, Marta Hurtado, the spokeswoman for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said in a statement on Sept. 26 that the ban was not right.

“No one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear or not wear," Hurtado said.


 
French PM Seeks To Mend Cabinet Rift Over Hijab In Sport

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Tuesday sought to impose unity on his government as a top minister threatened to resign over whether women should be allowed to wear the Islamic headscarf in sports competitions.

Currently, it is up to individual sports federations in France to decide whether women can wear the hijab in competition.

But legislation is going through parliament to ban it completely in professional and amateur competition, in a move backers say will shore up France's strictly secular modern republic.

Cabinet unity in Bayrou's minority government, which tilts to the right but also has some figures from a centre-left background, has crumbled in recent days with the sports minister and education minister expressing discomfort with the legislation.

On Tuesday, Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, a right-wing former interior minister and one of the highest-profile cabinet ministers, said he was prepared to resign if the government gave ground on the issue.

"I cannot remain in a government that gives in on these issues. I am not participating in that," he told the newspaper Le Parisien.

Darmanin, who supporters see as a possible successor to President Emmanuel Macron, has repeatedly warned that far-right leader Marine Le Pen risks winning 2027 presidential elections if the French are not reassured on social issues.

"If we want to let Le Pen defend secularism on her own, we could not do a better job," he added.

Education Minister Elisabeth Borne, herself a former prime minister, had said on Monday that it was "the responsibility of (sports) federations to define their internal regulations".

Currently, some sports -- notably football and basketball -- forbid women from wearing the hijab, while others -- like handball -- allow it in competition.

Sports Minister Marie Barsacq has repeatedly expressed her reservations, warning against "confusion" and "conflating" the wearing of a headscarf with radicalisation in sport.

In a closed-door meeting Tuesday, Bayrou lashed out at "unacceptable internal criticism" between ministers and vowed to restore "good order", a participant told AFP.

He later summoned key ministers to a meeting, emphasising that the government's policy was to back the legislation going through parliament, according to another participant.

The bill adopted in February by the upper-house Senate, which is controlled by the right, proposes to ban the wearing of religious symbols, including the hijab, in all sporting competitions, including at amateur level.

"There is only one government line, and that is the one supported by the prime minister... it is support for the" Senate bill, Equality Minister Aurore Berge told the lower-house National Assembly, which is yet to debate the legislation.

She described it is part of a "determined fight against all forms of Islamist infiltration".

SOURCE: AFP NEWS
 
France bans hijab for French athletes at Paris 2024

French athletes have been barred from wearing the hijab, or Muslim headscarf, at the Paris Olympic Games.

France imposed the ban on its national team players as it prepares to host the Games from July 26 to August 11 and the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.

French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera initially announced the ban on September 24, 2023.

A few days later, Oudea-Castera, who was a guest of the French political show Dimanche en Politique, confirmed that no woman in her country's delegation would wear a headscarf during the Paris Olympics.

Following the announcement of the ban, Marta Hurtado, the spokeswoman for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said in a statement on Sept. 26 that the ban was not right.

“No one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear or not wear," Hurtado said.



Disappointing from France.

This is something you expect from a third world country like India or Hungary. Not France. It will be overturned hopefully.

:inti
 
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