A-Infos (en) France, UCL AL #350 - Antipatriarchy, Islamophobia and state sexism: A discriminatory law that continues to provoke debate (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

In 2004, an anti-veiling law was passed, known as the law on the wearing 
of religious symbols at school. Twenty years later should we celebrate 
this law which many claim has racist aims? ---- This year marks 20 years 
since the 2004 law on the wearing of religious symbols at school was 
promulgated, not for reasons of secularism (the 1905 law is sufficiently 
clear on freedom of worship) , but to stigmatize the Muslim population. 
This two years after the presence of the far right in the second round 
of the presidential election for the first time.

Since then, the far right has continued to rise and the situation is 
getting worse. The latest back-to-school circular, one of Gabriel 
Attal's first measures upon taking office, bans abayas in 
establishments. Each decision further stigmatizes Muslims in France.

The emancipation of students undoubtedly requires a step back from their 
family and religious traditions, but this law does not achieve this 
objective. A brutal ban does not allow us to step back or emancipate, it 
just adds oppression to people who already experience it every day, and 
is an attack on the right to education. The inequality of treatment 
between different religions is glaring within the educational 
environment: many private religious establishments exist for other 
religions.

In addition to being Islamophobic, this law is sexist and is one of the 
many injunctions that adolescent girls receive on the way they dress. No 
outfit really seems to allow them to avoid being controlled over their 
bodies: when it is not a question of reproaching them for clothes that 
are too short, it is those that are too long that become problematic. 
While emancipation would consist of letting them choose in an informed 
manner, this law is out of the question.

In the teachers' rooms, it is very difficult to broach the subject. 
Teachers are in fact overwhelmingly in favor of this law (more than 90% 
according to certain surveys[1]).

A necessary "against" position but difficult to obtain
Even among union members, we quickly find ourselves faced with arguments 
like "if we leave the veil, then...", with several possible variations 
on the catastrophe that will then occur. The perpetual propaganda of the 
far right in the media and social networks unfortunately has a certain 
effectiveness when it rekindles conflicts or creates controversies.

The teaching unions are mostly silent on this subject, but late and 
timid progress is appearing: the SUD education federation recently stood 
out by calling for its repeal. This decision was the subject of 
difficult internal debates and some departures; However, it appears 
beneficial in view of the dramatic consequences of the law on the daily 
lives of the students concerned. The opinions expressed by the youngest 
on this law give more hope: a survey[2]shows 52% of high school students 
against this law, which suggests that change is possible in the long term.

In-depth union and political work remains to be carried out: it appears 
necessary to mobilize massively against this law which gives free rein 
to daily discrimination, and against all those in the same vein already 
promulgated or which will soon be.

Activist teachers from UCL

To validate
[1]"Teachers, secularism and the place of religions in school", Ifop.com

[2]""Right to blasphemy", secularism, freedom of education... Are 
today's high school students "Paty"?», Ifop.com

https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Islamophobie-et-sexisme-d-Etat-Une-loi-discriminante-qui-continue-de-provoquer
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