Muslim Lawyer Forced to Back of Room Over Hijab at Paris Bar Swearing-In Ceremony

According to the media Acta Zone, "the EFB staff tried to force a trainee lawyer to remove her veil during the ceremony. "S. was approached by several members of the EFB who ordered her to remove her veil, citing the solemn nature of the ceremony," explains the media. But students opposed it. It was then that the officials "forced her to sit at the back of the room so as not to be visible".

Another student present at the ceremony wanted to show her support for the young woman: "Support for my future colleague and all those who, like her, have suffered from this racist system. She must be surrounded by solidarity and shown that she is not alone in facing all this," she wrote on her Twitter account.

Reactions multiplied on social media, condemning a reprehensible act that shows that racism is still very present in France. "This unveiling is totally in keeping with the spirit of the school, which has chosen Richard Malka as our sponsor," notes Romane, who explains that "this lawyer has notably defended Mila, is the author of the book [The right to annoy God], and disputes the [concept] of Islamophobia".

According to her, Richard Malka explained during the ceremony that "the only place where we have absolute freedom of expression is in the courts". "I’m ashamed to be in a promotion that bears his name," concludes the young lawyer.