France to ban female students from wearing abayas in state schools
France to ban female students from wearing abayas in state schools
The education minister says female Muslim students will not be allowed to wear the loose-fitting robe.
Pupils will be banned from wearing abayas, loose-fitting full-length robes worn by some Muslim women, in France's state-run schools, the education minister has said.
The rule will be applied as soon as the new school year starts on 4 September.
France has a strict ban on religious signs in state schools and government buildings, arguing that they violate secular laws.
Wearing a headscarf has been banned since 2004 in state-run schools.