France Abaya Two Worlds

In the bouquet of rights offered by French, Canadian or American constitutions, which right overrides all rights? France has banned the abaya from the classroom because all kids must look the same. There is no religion in French schools so there should be no kids that are identified by religion.

There are religious rights and secular rights. Is religion so important that it overrides French national and school policy? That is the main pulll-and-push between Muslim groups and the French government. Islam was not born in France. It was born somewhere like the Middle East where it was a given. Men wear certain clothes, women have their own clothes like the abaya, their relationship is determined by religion and they pray together separately, in that geographical space, which is a country.

That geographical space changed when religion moved to France and north America. We have the internet so Muslims knew what to expect. They still wanted to come to France and north America. They believe they have a beautiful religion and they have a right to that belief. But it cannot override France’s right to have a religion-free classroom. That will happen after school.

Do Muslims believe that they have a superior religion? Yes, at home where its umbilical cord is buried. Example. Western women always carry long dresses, skirts and scarves when they go to Arab countries. That is the law, a religious law. Women must cover the whole body and face. Do western women like it? No. But they understand it is the law of the land they are visiting.

Muslims in France should see the abaya ban in that context.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.