Restriction of Hijabs in Public and Private Sectors

“ … the globalized Islamophobia that brought us here” 1 : Restriction of Hijabs in Public and Private Sectors In the “West” Allison Brown HIST 3220: Modern Middle East Dr. Ward April 6, 2021 Gaining attention in recent global media, the French “ban” for the wearing of a hijab for any woman in the country under the age of eighteen. Understandably, the policy move has enraged Muslim and women populations worldwide, a clear infringement on female autonomy with the excuse that, “prohibition in the public space of any conspicuous religious sign by minors 2 and of any dress or clothing which would signify an interiorization of women over m Ienn.” this essay, I will respond to France’s ban on hijabs for Muslim youth in public and breifly examine the past of French regulation of hijabs and other Muslim dress. In 2010, France passed a law prohibiting people from wearing clothing in public that covers your face. And although many blasted the law as Islamophobic, "burqa theban" remains in place today, punishable with a fine and citizenship course for women wearing a hijab. France has historically strived to uphold its ideals of secularism, or separation of state and religion, often arguing that religious symbols like veils are in opposition to European principles of autonomy and individualism. The nation’s policies regarding Muslim women have previously sparked controversy. President Nicholas Sarkozy’s "burqa ban" in 2010 as mentioned before was a decisive move that has had real impacts, especially in light of COVID-19. In May of last year, the nation enforced the wearing of face masks on public transportation to help curb the spread of COVID-19, but, those caught wearing niqabs – face coverings that cover the same surface yet are deemed “religious” – would still be fined under the po3licy. French President Emmanuel Macron had previously stated that the hijab is not in accordance with French ideals, but had also said that he does not wish “to make a law which 1 prohibits it in the street.4” Veils have already been banned in French public schools since 2004, and should this latest ruling get passed into law, the age of consent for sex will be lower than the age of consent for hijab, a notion that is enraging French Muslims and other Muslim populations throughout the world as well as feminist activists and interests. Different activists in the past few days have taken to social media to express their opinions on the French senate’s legislation. Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad wrote, “This is what happens when you normalize anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim hate speech, bias, discrimination, and hate crimes, even Islamophobia written into law. May Allah protect our sisters.”5 Activist and founder of Muslim Women’s Day Amani al-Khatahtbeh also took to her social media to say, “My French sisters, know that we see you, stand with you and fight with you against the globalized Islamophobia that brought us h6ere.” It is also interesting to discuss the ramifications of this policy not only on the population of 5.4 million Muslim women under the age of eighteen who reside in France, but also, those who enjoy traveling to the country for leisure purposes. Are those women to have no autonomy over their own bodies and religion while abroad? Issues of “western countries” accurately and adequately addressing issues of Muslim women, both refugees and citizens, is not new with France’s latest public move with the hijab. For years, countries like France have neglected the unique individual needs of Muslim refugee women, wether that’s FGM/C (Female Gential Multilation/Cutting) policy, failing to address 2 displacement and a lack of community, or the latest ban on hijabs for all women under the age of eighteen. 3