French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested experimenting with uniforms or dress codes in some public schools, as the country grapples with a ban on long robes primarily worn by Muslims in classrooms. The ban on these robes, known as abayas for girls and women and khamis for boys and men, recently came into effect.
Macron stated his support for “experimenting” with uniforms to stimulate public debate, proposing options like a common dress code consisting of “a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a jacket” to make the rules seem less strict, particularly for teenagers. However, he provided no specifics about when or where this experiment would take place.
The ban on long robes in public schools has stirred controversy in France, with critics arguing that these garments do not constitute a conspicuous display of religion and should not be prohibited. Macron emphasized the importance of enforcing the ban to uphold the secular nature of French schools, where religious symbols are not permitted. The ban is rooted in a 2004 law aimed at preserving secularism and applies to various religious symbols, including Muslim headscarves, large Christian crosses, Jewish kippas, and Sikh turbans.