French parliamentary committee blocks bill banning headscarves for minors

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) — France’s National Assembly Law Committee on Wednesday rejected a bill that sought to ban the wearing of headscarves by minors in public spaces.

The proposal, introduced by lawmakers from the conservative Republicans (LR) party and sponsored by Laurent Wauquiez, was blocked at the committee stage, French news broadcaster 20 Minutes reported.

Despite the setback, the bill is set to return to the National Assembly for debate on Jan. 22 during parliamentary time allocated to the Republicans group.

The draft law aimed to prohibit parents from requiring or allowing their underage daughters to wear clothing intended to conceal their hair in public.

Patrick Hetzel, a Republicans lawmaker and rapporteur of the bill, argued that veiling minors reflected gender inequality and confined children to what he described as a rigid religious identity.

The proposal drew limited support from President Emmanuel Macron’s political camp. Former prime minister Gabriel Attal backed a ban limited to girls under 15, while Renaissance lawmaker Prisca Thevenot proposed an amendment along those lines.

However, Florent Boudie, chairman of the Law Committee, said secularism did not mean “neutralizing public space” and warned that the Constitutional Council would likely strike down the measure.

Left-wing lawmakers strongly opposed the bill. Gabrielle Cathala of the France Unbowed (LFI) party described it as “unconstitutional, Islamophobic and pointless,” while Socialist Party lawmaker Herve Saulignac said it reflected “a primary debate between the far right and the extreme right.”

The far-right National Rally supported the proposal but criticized its wording as legally vague, warning it could extend to items such as hoods or caps.

Lawmakers from the Horizons and MoDem parties also voiced reservations, questioning how authorities could prove whether parents had forced or authorized their children to wear headscarves.