Fury in France as EFury in France as Emmmanuel Macron’s party tries to introduce headscarf | World | News
Emmanuel Macron’s political party has proposed banning girls under the age of 15 from wearing the Muslim headscarf in all public places, triggering criticism from Opposition politicians who claim the Government is targeting Muslims and appeasing the far-Right. The French president this week chaired a high-level meeting focused on “political Islamism”, as ministers were tasked with producing proposals before June in response to a report on the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood in France.
Gabriel Attal, the former prime minister and current head of Mr Macron’s Renaissance party, outlined the proposal ahead of the meeting. He told Le Parisien: “I want a ban on minors under 15 wearing the veil in public spaces.” He said the headscarf “seriously undermines gender equality and the protection of children”. Mr Attal also called for a new criminal offence for parents who coerce girls under the age of 18 to wear the veil.
His remarks prompted criticism from across the political spectrum. Jerme Guedj, a Socialist Party MP, accused Mr Attal of “chasing the far-Right” and warned the proposal risked distorting French secularism to target Muslims.
He insisted: “This has nothing to do with secularism.”
Green MP Sandrine Rousseau said the move was “discriminatory” and would result in Muslim girls being “singled out and punished for their faith”.
The French Council of the Muslim Faith issued a statement warning that the state “must above all not feed a generalised suspicion towards Muslims in France”.
The Elysee confirmed that the report commissioned by Mr Macron on the Muslim Brotherhood will be published by the end of the week.
The president ordered the inquiry last year amid growing concerns about the group’s influence in Europe.
According to Agence France-Presse, which obtained a copy of the report, it warns of the spread of Islamism “from the bottom up” — including in local politics, schools, sports clubs and charities.
The report describes the trend as “a threat in the short to medium term” to national cohesion and republican institutions.
An Elysee official said the movement’s presence in Europe was “clear” and added: “Its target is clearly Europe.” The official also said it was important to distinguish between Islamism and the wider Muslim population.
They stressed: “We are all perfectly aligned in saying that we must not lump all Muslims together. We are fighting against Islamism and its radical excesses.”
The 2004 French law bans the wearing of religious symbols — including Muslim headscarves, Christian crosses, Sikh turbans and Jewish kippahs — in state schools. Civil servants are also barred from wearing overt religious symbols while on duty.
The latest proposal comes amid increasing debate about religion and national identity ahead of European elections next month.
In 2022, Marine Le Pen proposed banning the Muslim headscarf in all public places during her unsuccessful presidential campaign.
There is also ongoing discussion within the French government about banning the hijab in domestic sports competitions.
