French Interior Minister Warns Against Hijab Ban for Minors, Citing Risk of Stigmatisation

French Interior Minister Warns Against Hijab Ban for Minors, Citing Risk of Stigmatisation
——————————-
France’s Interior Minister Frédéric Nunez has pushed back against a new proposal to ban the hijab for minors in public spaces, warning that the measure could unfairly target Muslim youth, IQNA reported. The draft law, introduced last week by senior Republican lawmaker Laurent Wauquiez, seeks to prevent all minors from wearing headscarves in public.

Speaking to BFMTV, Nunez said the proposal “deeply stigmatises Muslim citizens” and emphasized that he could not support the bill in its current form. He urged the government to focus on individuals promoting extremist ideologies rather than imposing broad restrictions on everyday religious practices.

The debate comes amid France’s long-standing secularist policies, which include the 2004 ban on “conspicuous” religious symbols in public schools and the 2010 prohibition of full-face veils in public. A companion Senate proposal has suggested banning Ramadan fasting for children under 16, raising further concern among Muslim families and rights advocates.

The issue is placing pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s centre-right government ahead of the 2027 presidential elections, as far-right parties gain traction. Some senior ministers, including Equality Minister Aurore Bergé, support stricter rules, arguing they protect children, while Macron’s Renaissance party has also floated measures limiting head coverings for those under 15.