Moroccan School Faces Backlash Over Alleged Jellaba Ban, Sparking Secularism Debate

Addressing the issue on his Facebook account, sociologist Mohammed Ennaji denounces "a Cartesian ijtihad in the name of which, under the pretext of defending secularism and light, we are sinking into confusion and darkness", adding that "according to the school authorities, the jellaba would be a non-civil, in other words religious, garment". These comments from Mohammed Ennaji have sparked a wave of reactions on the social network. For some, a foreign school in Morocco must respect local customs and traditions. For others, children enrolled in a secular establishment must comply with the internal regulations of the latter, which are signed by the parents at the time of enrollment.

Contacted by Le360, Najat Delpeyrat, the principal of the establishment and head of the Rabat-Kenitra hub of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) network, does not deny the facts, but specifies however that the decision was made at the entrance of the establishment by the supervising staff without the approval of the management. "I became aware, two weeks ago, of the case of a young girl refused at the entrance of the establishment because she was wearing a beautiful jelleba, and I went to fetch her myself on the forecourt to have her join her classes while reminding the staff who had not accepted her," explains the manager.

A few days ago, a principal education advisor (CPE) "pointed out to a young girl that she should avoid wearing a jellaba," continues the principal who says she was informed afterwards. The young girl ended up joining her classroom and the principal assures that she has reprimanded the person concerned. She also took the opportunity to remind them that "the jellaba is not a religious garment" and that "it is better to discuss with the young people to explain to them that the outfit is not recommended, because it hinders certain school activities" such as "sports practice, attendance at life and earth science laboratories or even physical science, because there are flammable materials".

Najat Lapeyrat emphasizes that she has called her staff to be more "tolerant" during this Ramadan period, where "we see a few more jellabas than usual". As for dress codes, the internal regulations "do not mention jellaba at all", but "proper attire", insists the principal. On secularism, the manager responds that the Lycée Descartes "welcomes French, Moroccan and thirty-three different nationalities of students" and that last year, 80% of the rooms in the French establishment were renamed after Arab and Moroccan personalities such as "Nawal Saadawi, Fatema Mernissi, Meriem Meziane, Aicha Ech-Chenna, Chaïbia, Rouicha...".