On August 27^th, the French government officially banned abayas from schools, igniting a nationwide debate. While most religious items were already prohibited in French schools, the abaya (a long-sleeve, floor-length robe typically worn as a sign of modesty by Muslim women) remained ambiguous, not quite infringing the 2004 law outlawing “ostensibly” religious signs, yet not an acceptably secular clothing item either. According to French education minister Gabriel Attal, the abaya went against laïcité, a principle that underscores France’s commitment to separating religion from the public sphere – a commitment upheld since its establishment in 1905, as a direct response to the country’s history of religious conflicts.

Laïcité is instilled from a young age; students in every public school are strictly forbidden to wear religious symbols or attire that reveal their religion, such as sizable crosses, Jewish kippot, or Islamic headscarves. Some students have continued to wear abayas after the 2004 ban, since it did not technically violate the rule. This choice has caused significant debate, particularly in recent years, as religious turmoil has overwhelmed the country.

Right-winged French politicians argue that wearing an abaya clearly signals a student’s religious affiliation, hindering others from freely forging their own set of beliefs and opinions while at school. It thus comes as no surprise that members of the French right-wing party, Les Républicans, have applauded this decision, relieved by the clarification and supportive of the endorsement of secularity within schools. Government spokesperson Olivier Veran even went so far as to characterize the abaya as “a political attack” or a form of “proselytizing” – an attempt to convert someone from one religion to another. Similarly, Attal described the abaya as a “resistance” to the “secular sanctuary that school must be.”

The left, for its part, has been split with mixed reactions. Some parties, such as the Socialists and Communists, have welcomed the decision, while many others have met the ruling with resistance and criticized the government for targeting Muslims and policing teenagers’ dress codes.

However, the unexpected unity between Macron’s newfound centrist political party and the extreme right has raised suspicions. Could this sudden support for right and far-right ideals come with hidden political intentions?

On its face, this ban was primarily passed as an indirect response to a long series of violent incidents in France over the past decade. These attacks were largely based in religion: back in 2015, the horrific shootings at Charlie Hebdo and Bataclan, along with a series of suicide bombings, claimed the lives of 130 civilians and injured over 400. Charlie Hebdo’s editors and columnists were targeted due to their illustrations of cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad, and the Bataclan attacks were carried out by Islamic State members in response to French airstrikes in Syria and Iraq. Only five years later, secondary school teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded after showing his class caricatures of Muhammad – the same drawings that had sparked the Charlie Hebdo shootings – to teach his students about freedom of speech. He had given students prior warning about the images and advised them to leave the classroom if they found them disturbing. Nevertheless, this sparked anger in a parent, who proceeded to plan out the murder of the innocent teacher.

But these incidents aren’t the only explanation for the bans. After he failed to garner absolute majority votes in Parliament last year, Macron has been seeking to form closer alliances with other parties to avert potential political paralysis, causing some to wonder whether the ban on abayas was passed with the intent of courting Marine Le Pen’s immigration-opposing supporters. Others have suggested that this recent series of bans on religious clothing could serve as distractions to shift the country’s focus away from pressing matters such as teacher shortages, inflation, and other social crises.

Whether or not this newest bout of enforcing laïcité is truly an attempt to keep religion and its associated conflicts out of schools, it has become yet another ban to disproportionately target Muslim students, who have felt unfairly singled out since the 2004 outlawing of Islamic veils in schools. Many abaya-wearers contend that the garment does not have significant religious symbolism, highlighting the detrimental effects on Muslim women’s mental health that will arise from this change. In addition, increasing restrictions on religious attire following the aforementioned terror attacks may give the impression that the government is categorizing all Muslims as a single group, which would not only be deeply offensive to the many moderate Muslims who do not support extreme Islamist ideologies but would also inadvertently fuel hatred within the French system.

“[The abaya] is a teenage expression without consequences,” argued sociologist Agnes De Feo. A student’s classmate wearing an abaya would not infringe upon that student’s freedom to form their own opinions, nor would it fundamentally undermine the principles of the République. However, restricting abayas will make some students significantly uncomfortable, especially if it is part of their cultural practice to cover certain parts of their bodies. The lack of specifications on particular measurements might also cause unnecessary stress. What if a student wants to wear a long dress or skirt? Will they need to measure all their clothing items to ensure they are not violating the dress code? Limiting religiously-based conversations and prohibiting religious emblems already contribute to keeping religion out of schools. Further enforcement of laïcité would be hindering students’ schooling experiences.

If the French government remains steadfast in its decision to ban abayas, the least it could do is offer support for affected students. While specially-trained aides have been sent to help teachers and school staff face potential conflict, additional resources should be offered to help students with the transition, provide practical solutions if the new law causes them particular discomfort, and address potential negative mental health effects stemming from this change. Recognizing the cultural and personal significance of the abaya, as well as the potential emotional and psychological impact of such a ban, can pave the way for policies that achieve a delicate balance between secularism and inclusivity. By taking these perspectives into account, France can re-affirm its commitment to laïcité while ensuring that no student feels marginalized or unfairly targeted due to their culture or religion.