French Education Minister Bans Islamic Dress

“French Education Minister Gabriel Attal announced on Sunday that France will ban the Islamic garment known as the abaya in schools,” Politico reports.

“The abaya is a long, flowing dress commonly worn by Muslim women as it complies with Islamic beliefs on modest dress — but it’s also worn by other communities in North Africa and the Middle East. In 2004, France banned religious symbols in schools, including large crosses, Jewish kippahs and Islamic headscarves. But the abaya occupies a gray zone and hasn’t specifically been banned.”