By Lilya Melkonian

While religious symbols and attire are accepted in most countries in the world, they are not authorized in public institutions in countries like France or Turkey. Last September, this rule was challenged in France where two high school students were expelled because they wore the Muslim veil to school.

France has had a rather tumultuous history in establishing the right role of religion in daily life. French Kings were partial to carving out an exclusive place for Catholicism in their government while other religions were repressed and sometimes forbidden. It wasn’t until 1789 when the principle of secularity became popularized in the wake of the French Revolution, that the separation of Church and State became indelible. Laws written in 1789, 1881 and again in 1946 after millions of Jews died in Europe just because they were Jewish created a heightened sensitivity in France. As a result, everyone in France has to look with neutrality on the issue of religion.

In 2004, President Jacques Chiraq added a new law to the principle of “laicite” or secularity, which took religious neutrality to a new level. Perhaps fueled by international conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian or an over-reaction to people of Muslim faith in the wake of 9/11 where people forget that not all Muslims are Islamic terrorists, this law forbids young people to wear their religion “on their sleeve” to school. The law says that school is a neutral place where all political and religious identities are banned.

This has created a lot of anger in a growing Muslim community in France that is beginning to feel marginalized and discriminated against. As a result, more girls are coming to public schools wearing their veil and refusing to take it off – this despite the fact that anyone can wear his kippa, veil, cross, or yarmulke outside of school.

This has given rise to a debate in France about the feasibility of defending secularity. The question is: Do we need a law that forbids religious symbols and attire? Isn’t the principle of “laicite” enough? There has been a lot of debate within French political parties over whether the French Republic should enforce neutrality in public institutions. Those who disagree with the principle of secularity are often accused of being manipulated by extremist organizations that want to change the Republican identity ideals. The fact of the matter is, integration in France is not what it is in the United States. Here, we tend to erase all community identities so everyone feels French above feeling Jewish, black or Russian, etc. Of course cultural identities are respected, but the idea of a French nation is preeminent. Cultural ghettos do not exist nor does discrimination because the Republic considers everybody the same. Everybody is equal because they are French first and their original differences have been erased.

This new law is going to be voted on by the French Parliament in the coming days. While the French population is still divided on this subject, here are a few representative opinions from young people in France.

Yves-Armen, 21 years old

I am against the law because the secularity principle already exists. This law will emphasize an inequality because it has been presented as a law against the veil.

Marine, 19 years old

I am for the law because I think wearing a veil can be a factor of exclusion among young people. Some kids are obliged to wear the veil without wanting to. This law is liberation for them. But I am also against the fact that this law focuses on the Muslims. Some girls may actually stop going to school because they can’t wear the veil.

Annaig, 24 – Counselor in a Public School

I’m a counselor in a secondary school where 60% of the pupils are Muslim. The girls say that if they don’t wear the veil, people in their community would consider them to be disrespectful. But the law was created so that all pupils get the same education. If they want to wear their religion outside of school, of course they can, but at school there should be no difference between the children. Everyone is equal. It’s a way to erase differences between young people and to teach respect for their neighbor – not for what he or she wears.

Amina, 17

I wear the veil because of my religious convictions even though my parents don’t oblige me to do so. I respect the rules of the republican institutions, but I sometimes feel frustrated by not being able to wear my religion at school. I don’t understand why some people consider it bad or wrong to have a piece of clothing on the head. But I am also conscious that some girls in my Arabic classes are obliged to wear the veil and don’t like it. They feel much happier and free at school knowing they have to take it off. I am against this law and I think it represents an anti-Muslim trend of opinion.