Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

It is argued that Muslims in France face many problems including unemployment, discrimination, marginalization, low participation in the state’s official apparatus, and now the issue of the hijāb.



The issue of the hijāb in France is not new; three years ago, the French government prohibited all religious symbols in public schools, but the law has been a prominent issue in French society ever since. [Editor: The law banning religious symbols in French schools is much older than this, and the issue of the hijāb has been prominent for at least a decade]



Despite being quite unfair to the majority of Muslims in France, the law has actually helped Muslims in many different ways. Many French people have been eager to read and know more about Islam since the controversy erupted, and Muslims are no longer as marginalized since they have established new Islamic centers through which to address French society.