French schools will be ‘intractable’ in enforcing ban on robes worn by Muslims

The education minister described girls and boys wearing the robes in school as “an infringement on secularism”, a foundational principle for France.

French President Emmanuel Macron listens to teachers during a visit to a vocational school in Orange, southeastern France, on Friday (Ludovic Marin/AP)

French students will not get past the door if they show up for school wearing long robes, President Emmanuel Macron has insisted – saying authorities will be “intractable” in enforcing a new rule when classes resume next week.

French education minister Gabriel Attal announced at a news conference four days ago that robes worn mainly by Muslims, known as abayas for girls and women and khamis for boys and men, would be banned with the start of the new school year on Monday.