Hundreds of people gathered in the northern French city of Trappes on Friday to protest a government ban on wearing the burqa in schools. The protesters demanded an end to discrimination against Muslims and Islamophobia in France.
The protesters said the burqa ban is discriminatory and a violation of freedom. They called on the government to ban anti-Muslim speech instead of banning the burqa.
The French Council of State approved the ban on Thursday, saying it was necessary to protect the country’s secular principles. The ban has been met with fierce criticism from the government, which has been accused of targeting Muslims in recent years with policies such as raids on mosques and a law against “separatism” that imposes broad restrictions on Muslim communities.
The Council of State said the ban does not “seriously” infringe on the right to privacy, the right to worship, the right to education, the rights of the child, or the principle of non-discrimination.
The protest in Trappes was one of several protests that took place across France on Friday.
