A group of university students have rekindled the heated debate over the acceptance of the Muslim veil in French society as they invited fellow classmates at the prestigious Sciences Po university to try on the garment.
Around a dozen young women wearing colourful Muslim veils paced about nervously in the main hall of Sciences Po university in central Paris on Wednesday, bewildered by the numerous journalists on hand for "Hijab Day" and seemingly unprepared to answer questions about an event that had roused such attention.
Initially reluctant to explain why they were inviting fellow classmates to don the religious attire, they eventually gained a measure of confidence as two women stepped forward to participate.
"We could no longer allow people to say things supposedly on our behalf, it was time to speak for ourselves," a student identifying herself as Laetitia told journalists, insisting that the event aimed to encourage discussion among students, but in no way intended to convert people to Islam.
Laetitia and others in the group said they were disheartened by recent public comments by members of France's Socialist government that likened wearing the Muslim veil to enslavement.
Last month, Laurence Rossignol, France's minister for women's rights, compared Muslim women who wear the hijab to "American negroes who were in favour of slavery". More recently, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said he was in favour of a law banning head scarves in public universities.
An Australian student spending one semester in Paris was one of the first to accept the challenge. Hannah Bartlett threw on a bright purple scarf with the help of one of the organisers. "Supporting other women is important. Wearing a veil is their choice," she said, expressing surprise the issue was so controversial in France.
Hannah Bartlett, an Australian student spending one semester at Sciences Po, said it was important to support women who choose to wear Muslim veils. © Joseph Bamat, FRANCE 24The Islamic veil has been banned in public primary and high schools for students and teachers since 2004. In 2011 French lawmakers banned public wearing of the full-face veil or mask.
Josselin Marc, president of the Sciences Po chapter of the UNEF student union, explained that the event had gained unexpected attention after far-right groups found out about it, posting insulting comments on social media in recent days. Many students who had been largely indifferent to "Hijab Day" then rallied to support it in view of the attacks, Marc explained.
"This should not have caused such a stir. It is an event that respects the rules of this university and the law in general," he said, noting that the UNEF union did not take a position on wearing the hijab on institutions of higher learning, but supported an initiative meant to "advance public debate on an important topic".
Helena was among the Sciences Po students who disapproved of "Hijab Day", calling the event "shocking" as she watched journalists fire questions at one of the organisers. "It's ridiculous to hear them tell us that [the hijab] is just a piece of fabric, especially in this day and age," she said.
French MP Bruno Le Maire, a member of the opposition Les Républicains party and a presidential hopeful, on Wednesday said he was against the event. "In France, women are visible. No to proselytism!" Le Maire, who is also a professor at the university said on his Twitter account.
A Sciences Po student tries on a Muslim veil during "Hijab Day" at the prestigious university in central Paris on April 20, 2016. © Joseph Bamat, FRANCE 24Anais, another organiser of the event insisted the "Hijab Day" was only meant to demystify the Muslim veil among classmates and empower women to express themselves freely on the subject. She said no other follow-up events were planned for the future.
Date created : 2016-04-20
Source → 'Hijab Day� at prestigious French university stirs controversy
