Today’s news / France

France

France is banning students in public schools from wearing the abaya worn by some Muslim girls and women. The abaya is a loose garment that covers the entire body and fits loosely around the hair. “I have decided that abaya can no longer be worn in schools,” Education Minister Gabriel Attal told TF1 television. “When you walk into a classroom, you shouldn’t be able to identify the religion of individual students just by looking at them.”
    Attal said the ban will apply in state schools across the country from September 4, when they open after the summer holidays. France has strict rules on keeping religious signs out of its state schools. These are prohibitions that have been maintained since the 19th century, when legislation removed Catholic influence from teaching. Christian crosses and Jewish skullcaps are also banned. /ritzau/Reuters/