On Sunday, French voters will choose between incumbent President Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the presidential election runoff. Macron remains the front-runner, with some apparent momentum behind him from Le Pen. However, Le Pen, who is running for the third time, appears to be closer than before to gaining favorable political outcomes for her campaign. If Le Pen is elected, a French hijab ban would be incrementally implemented. 

There has been increased scrutiny over Le Pen’s program, as election day approaches. According to the National Post, in an interview with France Inter radio, Louis Aliot, the far-right mayor of Perpignan and a former life friend of Le Pen, said that the hijab ban was one of the numerous political measures to combat “Islamism,” but that its implementation needed to be done “gradually.” He believes the prohibition should begin with state-run services and then be gradually expanded. In addition, he also stated that “there will be a debate in parliament, and then a decision will be made.”

The French Republic is based on a rigorous separation of church and state to foster equality for all private beliefs rather than stigmatize any particular religion. Under this political system, people should be given the right to practice their religion and express their faith. Therefore, an environment of mutual respect regarding religions should be fostered to allow everyone the ability to practice and believe as they please without intervention. A hijab ban is an attack on the agency of Muslim women that would disrupt their autonomy in practicing their faith. 

In a country that has seen a succession of horrific terrorist attacks in recent years, issues related to France’s Muslim population, one of the largest in Europe, have become a heated policy concern. Given France’s colonial history, the state’s justification for the hijab ban, aimed at liberating and empowering young women, is extremely contentious. Constantly referring to Muslim women as oppressed not only victimizes them and undermines their autonomy but also perpetuates colonial moral justifications. The French hijab prohibition establishes a specific image of citizenship by openly excluding Muslim women who cover their faces and heads. 

The criticism Le Pen has received from the public regarding the hijab ban has pushed her campaign approach to soften her stance and frame the ban in a manner that would appeal to the interest of French voters.