Can Muslims go to school in France?

Private school Averroes, the first Muslim high school to open in mainland France in 2003 in the northern city of Lille, has more than 800 pupils and has been under contract with the state since 2008. Pupils follow the regular French curriculum, and are also offered religion classes.

Can you wear a hijab in school in France?

“Since 2004, in France, religious signs and symbols have been banned in schools, including headscarves, kippas and crosses,” she said. “Gabriel Attal, the education minister, says that no one should walk into a classroom wearing something which could suggest what their religion is.”

Are you allowed to wear a hijab in France?

“France and some European countries ban the hijab and head covering for Muslim women, whereas the Taliban obligates women to wear the hijab and prevents foreign women with uncovered faces from tourism," he said.

What is the abaya ban in France?

France's decision to ban public school students from wearing the abaya – a long dress or robe popular among women in certain Muslim cultures – and the male equivalent, the qamis, has faced criticism since Aug. 27, 2023, when the country's education minister announced the new rule.

Do they have religious schools in France?

Non-contract private education

There are few schools of this type in France: they represent 0.3% of all pupils. They sometimes apply innovative teaching methods and may be faith schools (Islamic, Catholic, Protestant, Sikh or Jewish).

France to ban wearing Islamic abayas in schools • FRANCE 24 English

Does France allow religious freedom?

Freedom of religion in France is guaranteed by the constitutional rights set forth in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

How many Muslims in France?

According to the latest Special Eurobarometer 493 (2019) the Muslim population in France is estimated to be 5% or 3.35 million. Pew Research Center predicts the Muslim population would rise to 8.6 million or 12.7 percent of the country in 2050 if immigration would be high.

What percentage of France is Islam?

Muslims represented 10% of the French population in 2019 - 2020, according to figures by the national statistics bureau, Insee. A total of 29% of the population, aged 18 to 59, declared themselves Catholic, 10% Muslim, 10% other religions and 51% had no religion, according to the report published Thursday.

Are crosses allowed in French schools?

This report inspired the law of March 15, 2004, which stipulates that "in public middle and highs schools, the wearing of symbols or clothes through which pupils clearly show a religious affiliation is prohibited." While the law primarily targets the headscarf, it also bans Jewish yarmulkes, large Catholic crosses and ...

Did France ban religion in schools?

This restriction falls under France's 2004 law banning ostentatious religious symbols and garments in public schools. The ban, enacted March 15, 2004, initially prohibited Islamic hijabs, Jewish yarmulkes, Sikh turbans, and large Christian crosses in public schools.

How many Muslims wear hijab in France?

According to the source, 31 percent of Muslim women living in France in 2019 wore a headscarf. On the other hand, a majority (58 percent) declared that they had never worn one.

What is the legal age to wear hijab in France?

In France, it is legal and acceptable for women, regardless of their age, to wear a hijab or any other form of religious or cultural clothing. It is important to note that France is a secular country, and the government has strict laws on the separation of religion and state.

What is hijab in French language?

noun. hijab m ⧫ voile m.

Is France a religious country?

Catholicism was once the state religion of France and continues to be the primary religion in French society. Throughout most of the country, communities began as parishes. Today, many rural villages see the local church building as a symbol of local identity.

What is the dress code for schools in France?

French children do not wear a school uniform. They are allowed to wear casual clothing to school although anything too unusual would be frowned upon. Religious clothing of any kind is banned in schools in France.

What is the difference between abaya and burqa?

Abaya is an Arabic term for a long, loose outer garment. Abayas are worn by both men and women. Burqa is an Arabic term for a loose-fitting garment (or a combination of different garments worn together) covering the head, face and body, and sometimes – though not always – the eyes.

Are French schools more strict?

The French system is centralised and highly structured, with a strict curriculum and standardised tests. In comparison, other countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have more decentralised systems, emphasising individualised learning and personalised approaches.

When did France ban veils in schools?

In 2004, the country banned headscarves in schools, and in 2010, it passed a ban on full face veils in public, angering many in its five million-strong Muslim community. “I have decided that the abaya could no longer be worn in schools,” Education Minister Gabriel Attal said in an interview with TV channel TF1.

Can female students wear headscarves in public schools in France?

Wearing a headscarf has been banned since 2004 in state-run schools. "When you walk into a classroom, you shouldn't be able to identify the pupils' religion just by looking at them," Education Minister Gabriel Attal told France's TF1 TV, adding: "I have decided that the abaya could no longer be worn in schools."

Where do most Muslims live in France?

The French capital of Paris and its metropolitan area has the largest number (2.5 million in 2019 according to INSEE) of Muslims out of any city in Europe.

How many mosques are in France?

There are currently about 2,300 mosques in France with a further 200 to 250 planned. It is difficult to say when the first mosque in France was built. There is archaeological evidence of an eighth-century mosque in Narbonne, France. The Tsingoni Mosque in the overseas department of Mayotte was built in 1538.

Can I wear hijab in Paris?

These cannot be worn in any public space in France, at risk of a €150 fine. The hijab or headscarf, however, is completely legal in public spaces including shops, cafés and the streets and it's common to see women wearing them, especially in certain areas of the big cities like Paris.

Which religion is growing in France?

But even as polls show anti-Islamist sentiment rising, Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Europe. Nearly 5 million Muslims live in France, the largest Muslim population in Europe, and some 4 million live in Germany.

Which France players are Muslims?

There have been several Muslim players in the Les Bleus squad for years, such as Zinedine Zidane, Franck Ribery, Nicolas Anelka, Paul Pogba, Ousmane Dembele, and N'Golo Kante.