French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party, Renaissance, has proposed banning girls under 15 from wearing the Muslim headscarf in all public places. The suggestion was made at a high-level government meeting, where Macron chaired discussions on “political Islamism” in France.
The proposal, which also includes introducing a criminal offence for parents who coerce their daughters into wearing the veil, aims to address concerns about the spread of Islamism in French society. However, some critics have labelled it as an attempt to target Muslims.
Macron’s office has stated that the government will publish a report on the Muslim Brotherhood in France by the end of this week, which found that the movement poses a “threat to national cohesion” and risks undermining societal institutions. The report suggests that Islamism is spreading from the bottom up through various associations and groups.
The suggestion comes amid growing concerns about national identity and Islam in France. The far-right party Le Pen’s Marine Le Pen has proposed banning the Muslim headscarf by any woman in all public spaces, while current French legislation prohibits civil servants from wearing obvious religious symbols.
France is a secular republic with a clear separation of church and state, aiming to foster equality for all private beliefs. However, debates persist over proposing new laws to restrict Islamic practices, including the banning of the Muslim headscarf in domestic sports competitions.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/emmanuel-macron-france-party-moots-banning-headscarves-in-public-for-under-15s