France’s crackdown on Muslim schools sparks fears of growing religious discrimination Minister Targets Headscarf Wearers

The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) has expressed deep concern over what it describes as discriminatory administrative actions targeting private Islamic schools in France.

In a statement released on January 14, the council criticized the termination of state contracts with Lycée Averroès in Lille and the Al Kindi school network in Lyon, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media. The CFCM argued that these decisions are seen by many as disproportionate and unwarranted.

The council raised issues of unequal treatment, pointing out what it perceived as a double standard. It cited the example of Lycée Stanislas in Paris, which, despite being embroiled in various controversies, has not faced equivalent sanctions.

“These actions appear to reflect a broader and troubling trend of systemic suspicion towards Muslims in France,” the statement read. The CFCM further warned that terms like "separatism" and "communitarianism" are increasingly being weaponized to tarnish the Muslim community as a whole.

The council also referenced a recent legal victory in Nice, where the court overturned the closure of Collège Avicenne. This, it argued, demonstrates that the judiciary remains a crucial avenue for upholding the rights of such institutions.

Encouraging affected schools to seek justice through legal proceedings, the CFCM called on authorities to ensure their decisions are fair, measured, and grounded in verified evidence. It urged public officials to avoid exacerbating tensions and further alienating communities.

The statement underlines the CFCM’s hope for a more balanced approach, emphasizing the need for policies that foster unity rather than division.

Meanwhile, Bruno Retailleau, France’s Interior Minister, has sparked controversy with statements targeting Muslim women wearing headscarves, linking them to broader societal threats. His rhetoric, including proposals to ban headscarves in universities and during school outings, portrays them as symbols of “political Islam” and tools for societal infiltration.

Retailleau’s comments coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, where he implied Muslim women bear indirect responsibility for acts committed by extremist groups, despite the attackers being unaffiliated with such attire.

Critics highlight the hypocrisy and racial undertones of Retailleau's stance, noting that headscarves are not inherently Islamic and are worn for various personal, cultural, or religious reasons. His views exacerbate stereotypes about France’s six-million-strong Muslim community, already marginalized and scapegoated for societal issues.

Retailleau also made divisive remarks following the 2023 police shooting of a French-Algerian teenager, attributing unrest to "ethnic regression" among immigrant communities.

This approach aligns Retailleau with figures like Jean-Marie Le Pen, a convicted racist whose discriminatory ideologies continue to influence French politics. By framing Muslims as a civilizational threat, Retailleau fosters an exclusionary narrative, ignoring the community's socioeconomic struggles and contributions.

His focus on headscarves detracts from addressing pressing issues, such as rising crime rates and inequality. Retailleau’s rhetoric highlights a troubling shift in mainstream French politics towards normalizing bigotry under the guise of national cohesion.

By Aghakazim Guliyev