We strongly condemn and reject the draft law proposal adopted by the French
Senate, which aims to prevent mothers wearing headscarves from accompanying
students on school trips.
Justifying the headscarf ban with the interpretation of “People Providing
Services” clause targets directly mothers who accompany their children, not
public service providers. This is a new example of France's discriminatory
and marginalizing approach that treats Muslims differently from other
groups. This is unacceptable to the Turkish and Muslim communities living
in France, as well as to our country and other countries that believe in
universal values.
It would be beneficial for the French authorities to take legal measures to
fight hatred against Islam, rather than such discriminatory practices that
incite Islam and xenophobia in their country and limit religious freedoms.
It is yet another example of the hypocrisy and double-standard of countries
which refer to freedom on each opportunity but violate fundamental rights
and freedoms.
The warnings and opposition voiced by some rational Government Members and
MPs during the debate in the Senate have been welcomed.
We hope that France will step back from this mistake by listening to these
warnings and opposition and that the draft proposal will be rejected in the
National Assembly.