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00:00 France's top administrative court has upheld a government ban on wearing the abaya, a long
00:05 and loose garment worn by some Muslim women in public schools.
00:10 The state council dismissing complaints that the ban was discriminatory and could incite
00:15 hatred.
00:16 Annette Young, the host of France 24's 51% program, our women's show, joins me now to
00:21 talk about this contentious issue.
00:22 Hello to you, Annette.
00:25 This is a very divisive topic here in France, notably causing divisions among politicians.
00:31 Indeed.
00:32 And it's a hot potato in French society and one that many people outside of France struggle
00:38 to really understand.
00:40 And particularly, why is the government so adamant about that?
00:44 Particularly for people like ourselves, Will, who've come from countries which are built
00:47 on immigrations, you know, such as my own Australia, the US, Canada or New Zealand.
00:54 And it does appear that with all of these comments and rulings that women's clothing
01:00 largely features in this debate, such as the veil or the bikini, and now it's the abaya,
01:06 which is a loose fitting garment worn by some, and I stress the word some, Muslim women and
01:13 girls.
01:14 However, the education ministry says the abaya is an indication that the wearers are immediately
01:20 recognisable as belonging to the Muslim religion and therefore runs counter to France's secular
01:27 culture.
01:28 And if you know anything about France, you'll hear this word all the time, laicite.
01:33 We talk about it a lot here on France 24, explaining what it means.
01:36 Basically, it means supporting a secular approach.
01:41 And earlier this week, French schools sent dozens of girls home for refusing to remove
01:48 their abaya, and this happening on their first day of the school year on Monday.
01:53 And while the directive has been very much welcomed on the right, it certainly has divided
01:58 the left.
01:59 Many from the socialist and communist parties salute the move as being in line with the
02:04 country's secular values.
02:06 But politicians from the far left France, Unbowed Party, say that the ban is primarily
02:12 a move to stigmatise the country's Muslims, particularly young girls and young women under
02:18 the guise of secularism.
02:20 And Muslim community representatives say, will also point out that this is not so much
02:24 a religious government as it is a traditional government.
02:29 But the government is saying that this is to ensure secularism or laicite is maintained,
02:36 and points out that all religious symbols in schools and public spaces, such as the
02:40 Jewish Kibara school cap, are also banned from being used in those areas.
02:48 And now the state council, the highest administrative court in the land, has backed the government
02:54 on that move.