French Education Minister Targets Religious Attire as School Secularism Violations Surge

According to a note from the state services, attacks on secularism in schools have exploded in France, increasing by 120% between the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 school years. Most of the attacks are attributed to the wearing of signs and clothing, with an increase in reports of more than 150% over one year. This increase is explained by three main factors: "a significant evolution within the youth of the place given to religion", a "vision of secularism in the Anglo-Saxon style" and "family and community pressures", reports Europe 1.

The subject is of concern to the current Minister of National Education, who met with the rectors of academies on Thursday. "Our school is being tested. In recent months, religious clothing such as abayas or qamis have appeared in certain establishments," said Gabriel Attal. The firmness of the school’s response is being put to the test by these new phenomena, in the face of blows, in the face of attacks, in the face of attempts at destabilization. We must stand firm. And we will stand firm." He intends to "formally and in the very near future inform them of the conduct to be followed for the start of the school year in this matter."

"There is a phenomenon of mimicry (of students) and sometimes a desire to disturb and provoke authority in an adolescent period, where this issue is systematically brought to the fore," estimates Nicolas Cadène, member of the Vigie de la laïcité association in a post on X, adding that this phenomenon is "coupled nevertheless sometimes with a real identity withdrawal". To support his argument, this expert on secularity mentions "a sometimes counterproductive public debate on identity when it prevents the feeling of belonging to the nation".

The expert will note: "It is found that to prevent these attacks, it is necessary to strengthen socio-cultural diversity in all establishments. In fact, wherever it has become effective, the attacks have considerably decreased." Reacting to the debate on attacks on secularism in school establishments, the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) had, in a statement published in June, condemned the fact that the abaya is "wrongly presented by some as a Muslim religious sign" and specified that this tunic is not one.