The French Senate has voted to ban all Muslim girls under the age of 18 from wearing the hijab.
The move, which is being pushed under the umbrella of the country’s anti-separation bill, affirms the “prohibition in the public space of any conspicuous religious sign by minors and of any dress or clothing which would signify an interiorization of women over men.”
What is happening in France?
— nekeisha is really ia 🤲 (@wylansduarte) April 2, 2021
Women are being stripped of their rights by not being able to go on field trips, to not being allowed to wear a hijab. I stand AGAINST islamaphobia. This is not ok and no women should ever go through this. Please spread awareness and donate!
On Feb. 16, France’s National Assembly passed a contentious bill the government claims protects the country against the threats of “Islamist separatism.” The French authorities are working overtime to reinforce the country’s traditional embrace of a secular identity.
The legislation officially named the draft bill “reinforcing republican principles,” is yet to be enshrined into law and also seeks to ban women accompanying students during field trips from wearing a hijab as well as burkinis, a woman’s swimsuit that covers the entire body.
something disgusts me about France is how something like the hijab/ conservative dressing pisses them off mainly because they cannot have access to a woman. Even during colonial times the French would spew ugly rhetoric about conservative women but sexualize them at the same time
— 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐦 ☥ 𓆃 (@cryindivaa) April 2, 2021
While it is widely thought that the hijab is a way of curbing male sexual desire, the practice of covering the head and body predates Islam. Many women feel that wearing the hijab demonstrated their obedience to God, while others believe it to be a nod to their pride in their religion and culture.
The French state assumes that stigmatizing the hijab from all areas of public life will liberate Muslim women from Islam. But the Muslim community sees the bill as an infringement on their right to practice their religion freely.
“Muslim women are simultaneously oppressed and submissive, but also threatening to the French status quo, both as a result of their Muslimness,” says Dr. Amina Easat-Daas from De Montfort University, told TRT World.

Last month, Switzerland voted in favor of banning face coverings in public, including the burka or niqab worn by Muslim women. The measure had passed by 51.2% to 48.8%.
The vote was proposed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), who has vowed to “stop extremeism.”
“In Switzerland our tradition is that you show your face. That is a sign of our basic freedoms,” said Walter Wobmann, an SVP member of parliament and chairman of the referendum committee, adding that “the facial covering is a symbol for this extreme, political Islam which has become increasingly prominent in Europe and which has no place in Switzerland.”
Apparently, some masks are cool/others are not.
— Aaron Ginn (@aginnt) March 31, 2021
"Swiss voters approved a proposition banning facial coverings in public. Niqabs and burqas will be banned outside of religious institutions. The new law doesn't apply to facial coverings for health reasons." https://t.co/47bAC8WHtE
Over recent years, Islam has become an easy target for right-wing politicians, often using eastern traditions as a springboard for political campaigns, playing on the fears surrounding the religions often propelled by the mainstream media.
One of the first things President Donald Trump did when he took office, was sign an executive order that banned foreign nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries from visiting the country. It was aptly nicknamed the “Muslim ban.”
Today is the 69th day that Biden has chosen to keep banning those impacted by Trump's racist Muslim Ban, despite admitting it's a "morally wrong" thing to do. pic.twitter.com/IGtdAbCPUd
— Holding Biden Accountable (@WaitingOnBiden) March 30, 2021
Despite the French government claiming to champion the rights of the individual and liberate them from oppression… is the act of stripping a person of the option to wear the hijab, not in itself, an act of oppression?