Controversial Abaya Ban in France Sparks Diplomatic Tensions with Pakistan

France Banned the Abaya on the first day of school and forced all muslims girls to remove their Abaya. Pakistan is unhappy with France because they’ve said that Muslim women can’t wear  abaya. Pakistan thinks this is a problem because it takes away people’s freedom of religion and basic human rights. Pakistan believes this ban is unfair to Muslim girls and women.

A spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, called this ban “Islamophobic.” She said it doesn’t respect people’s rights and freedom to express their religion and identity. Pakistan wants France to change its decision.

France decided to stop women from wearing abayas in schools starting on August 28th. They did this because they want to keep religion separate from education. They had already banned Muslim headscarves for the same reason. Some people like this rule, but others think it’s not right because it limits people’s freedom. Everyone has the right to wear according to their comfort. 

France’s Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, visited a school and said things were going well. But she also mentioned that some girls were still wearing abayas to school, even though it’s not allowed. They will talk to these girls and explain the rule to them.

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The political left in France thinks this abaya ban is a way for the government to move more to the right and compete with far-right political groups. It has caused a lot of debate in the country.
The French authorities have identified 513 schools where this ban could affect students. There are about 45,000 schools in France, and around 12 million students went back to school on the day this ban started.