The Council of State in France, on Thursday, September 7, 2023, endorsed the decision to ban the wearing of the abaya in schools, thereby rejecting the appeal submitted by the "Labor for Muslim Rights" Association.

Reactions and a wide wave of criticism..

The law announced by French Minister of Education Gabriel Attal at the beginning of this month regarding the ban on wearing the abaya in schools has sparked numerous reactions both inside and outside the country after President Emmanuel Macron supported this decision and emphasized the commitment to implement it.

The French minister justified France's enforcement of this law by stating: "This dress violates the strict secular laws that the country imposes in the field of education."

The abaya differs according to the traditions of each country, as it is different from the hijab and niqab; it is a loose and wide piece of fabric designed in the form of jilbab designs, some of which are classified as abayas for women covering the entire body.

The "Labor for Muslim Rights" Association filed an urgent request to the Council of State for a court order against the ban on the abaya and the long shirt for men.

After the hijab and niqab.. Will other European countries follow France's lead regarding the abaya?

The positions of European countries regarding the hijab and niqab vary; countries like Germany, Sweden, and Spain do not reject strict restrictions on wearing these types of clothing, while some Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark and Norway, prohibit face and head covering and impose fines on those who do not comply.

Since 2010, France has also banned the wearing of the full hijab outside of school, and women have not been allowed to wear the burkini, which is the swimsuit that covers the entire body, in public swimming pools since last year.

French President Emmanuel Macron also called last week for the need to firmly proceed with the ban on wearing the abaya and other Islamic clothing, according to what the French news agency reported.

It is worth mentioning that French Minister of Education Gabriel Attal sent a memo to school heads at the beginning of this month, confirming that wearing the abaya and long shirt "expresses a religious affiliation in the school environment and cannot be tolerated there."