The concept of secularism in France -and the challenge it entails- can be well understood by looking at the list of students of the Paul Eluard Institute, in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris. Of the nearly 200 that appear inscribed in the lists visible at the entrance, there are surnames of all origins and cultures.
It’s just before nine in the morning and they form groups: girls with veils and loose clothing get together with others who are wearing jeans and tank tops or tops. Narimene adjusts her clothing before entering: the veil is removed and in its place a kind of white ribbon is placed wide over the hair. “She’s not an abaya, she’s a kimono,” she warns her over the robe that covers her body, open in front of her. “If they force me to take it off, I’m going home,” she challenges her.
the veils caen this Monday at the door of is the Institute of Saint-Denis, one of the areas of the Parisian periphery with a large part of the Muslim population. It is back to school day and everyone is paying attention to the students’ clothing, after the Government banned the abaya a few days ago, the long female tunic typical of many Muslim countries.
The Government considers that it is a religious sign (the Muslim Council disagrees) and, therefore, contrary to the value of secularism. This is one of the pillars of the Republic and guarantees that religion does not interfere in the functioning of the State. At school This translates, in addition to the neutrality of the teachers, in that there can be nothing in the student’s clothing that reveals their religion.
“It’s French-style secularism. For me, it’s that everyone’s religion is accepted, but here what they do is reject a large part of the French populationthose of us who are Muslims”, says Tania, 15, who is not wearing an abaya, but a closed tracksuit and a veil.