UN deplores France’s decision to ban girls from wearing Abaya in schools

Spokesperson for the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Marta Hurtado, criticised France’s decision to ban girls from wearing the Abaya in schools.

OHCHR’s spokesperson said in a press conference in Geneva that “According to international human rights standards, limitations on manifestations of religion or belief, including choice of clothing, were only permitted in very limited circumstances – including public safety, public order, and public health or morals.”

Hurtado added that “According to International human rights law, the procedures taken under the umbrella of the social order should be necessary and appropriate,” pointing out that “To achieve gender equality, this requires addressing the barriers that prevent women from making free choices, including the freedom to choose their clothes.”

It should be mentioned that the French Education Minister Gabriel Attal said earlier that wearing the Abaya will no longer be allowed in schools, under the pretext that it violates the strict secular laws followed in schools.”