Muslim Leader: Hijab Not Mandatory in Islam, Challenges Common Belief

"Many Muslim women think it is an important practice and they feel diminished by removing the headscarf or not wearing it. And they feel at odds with the values of Muslim modesty. Which is not the case, it is false," the imam said on BFMTV.

According to him, there is no unambiguous and formal text that would oblige the woman to cover her hair. "And I fight in this direction," he assured. These statements led the journalist to ask him if wearing the veil is not mandatory. "No, I don’t tell anyone, people are free. I defend the freedom of each to dress as she sees fit. But as a canonist, I am obliged to say that it is a practice that does not have the importance that many Muslim women give it," the Muslim dignitary replied.

On Thursday, LR deputies and an LREM elected official boycotted the hearing of a veiled student at the National Assembly.