by Riley Sandoval ‘22

France’s senate has voted to approve an amendment that would ban women under the age of 18 to wear a hijab, and a second amendment that would prohibit muslim mothers from attending school field trips. The two amendments still need to pass through the National Assembly before becoming the law. While the amendments are careful not to specifically mention muslims, they are a show of growing islamophobia and should not be able to become a law. 

The “Anti-Separatism” law was made to prevent people younger than 18 from wearing clothing that shows a religious affiliation, or signifies inferiority of women to men in public. France has passed similar laws banning students from wearing religious clothing to school in 2004, and another banning the niqab and other face coverings in 2010. A country such as France that praises its diversity, should not be able nor willing to pass amendments that would hinder anybody’s ability to practice religion freely. Even though some French Senators may think the amendments will lessen inequalities between men and women, it strips muslim women from the choice to practice their religion, while also giving police the right to arrest those who do. These amendments ability to discriminate against and harm the muslim community in France, show how islamaphobia is growing as well as why the amendments should not be passed into law.