French Judge Expels Activist Over Hijab in Courtroom Incident

Tunisian-French activist Hager Barkous was expelled from a courtroom in Nice last Friday for wearing a hijab, Anadolu Agency reported. Barkous, 31, attended the hearing to support a fellow activist on trial for incitement to hatred after advocating for a boycott of a restaurant owned by Zionists.

Barkous described the incident as shocking and discriminatory. She recounted that Judge Christian Legay entered the courtroom, barely acknowledging the attendees, and ordered her to leave, claiming she was “not recognizable” due to her headscarf. Despite her protests, four police officers escorted her out.

Outside the courtroom, Barkous encountered three students, one of whom, a veiled girl, was in tears, fearing she might also be expelled. Barkous expressed her heartbreak over the incident, highlighting the discrimination Muslim women face in France.

This is not Barkous’s first experience with discrimination; she previously sued McDonald’s for alleged misconduct related to her hijab. Following the courtroom incident, her lawyers challenged the judge’s decision, but he ignored their arguments. Barkous plans to take legal action against the judge’s ruling, emphasizing the need to combat discriminatory practices and Islamophobia in France.