The French education minister has reported that approximately 300 students arrived at school on Monday wearing the abaya, a long Muslim robe that was recently prohibited in schools.
The majority of the female students agreed to change into alternative clothing.
Official statistics indicate that 298 girls, primarily aged 15 or older, attended school wearing the banned garment.
In accordance with ministry guidelines, a discussion took place with school staff in each case. Subsequently, most girls willingly opted to change their attire and commenced their classes.
However, 67 girls declined to comply with the directive and were sent home.
Further discussions with their families will now occur, and if unsuccessful, they may face expulsion.
In comparison to the 12 million students who began the school term on Monday, the government believes that the ban has been widely accepted.
Nevertheless, a legal challenge by a group representing certain Muslims is scheduled to be heard in court later today.
At the end of August, the education minister announced the ban on students wearing the loose-fitting, full-length robes worn by some Muslim women in France’s publicly funded schools at the start of the new school year on September 4th.
France maintains a strict ban on religious symbols in state schools and government institutions, contending that such symbols contravene secular laws.
The wearing of headscarves has been prohibited in state-run schools since 2004.
This move follows months of debate concerning the use of abayas in French schools. The garment has gained increasing prominence in educational settings, resulting in a political divide, with right-wing parties advocating for a ban, while those on the left express concerns about the rights of Muslim women and girls.
In 2010, France prohibited the wearing of full-face veils in public, sparking controversy within the country’s five-million-strong Muslim community.
France has long enforced a strict prohibition on religious symbols in schools dating back to the 19th century, including Christian symbols such as large crosses, aimed at curbing any religious influence on public education. Over the years, the law has evolved to include the Muslim headscarf and Jewish kippa, but abayas have not been banned outright until now.
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