France is banning students from using abayas in the classroom. 

France is banning students from using abayas in the classroom. France is once again making the headlines for banning symbols of religious faith in state-run schools. Pupils in the country are forbidden from wearing ostentatious representations of their faith, such as the Muslim headscarf, or Christian crosses. Now, the government is considering banning students from wearing the abaya—a light over-garment worn by many Muslim women. France’s approach to multiculturalism and religion in the classroom can be summarized by the Education Minister’s recent statement: “When you walk into a classroom, you shouldn’t be able to identify the pupils’ religion just by looking at them.” YPulse’s research shows that 18% of Gen Z and Millennials in France are Muslims, the highest rate across Western Europe. (Le Figaro)