Paris CNN —France’s highest court on Thursday upheld the government’s ban on students in public schools from wearing the abaya, a long, robe-like garment often worn by Muslim women, in a decision that rights groups warn will lead to more discrimination.
The ban has its legal foundation in a law passed in 2004 forbidding the wearing of “conspicuous” religious symbols in French schools.
Action Droits Des Musulmans (ADM), the Muslim rights group that filed the appeal, argued that the ban infringes on “fundamental rights,” such as the right to personal freedom.
Macron said the ban was not “stigmatizing” anyone, but “people who push the abaya” are.
Last year lawmakers backed a ban on wearing the hijab and other “conspicuous religious symbols” in sports competitions.
Persons:
Musulmans, Vincent Brengarth, “, Gabriel Attal, ”, ” Attal, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, –
Organizations:
Paris CNN — France’s, ADM, Twitter, United Nations Human Rights
Locations:
Republic, France