The winter edition of Dazed Digital Magazine for 2023 has sparked heated discussions with its powerful cover featuring three Muslim women defiantly dressed in abayas, resembling the colors of the French flag. This bold statement serves as a critique against France’s contentious secular dress code within school premises and sporting events, a topic tackled extensively in the magazine’s latest issue.
Highlighting the struggles faced by Muslim women against France’s staunch regulations, the feature penned by Tiara Attaii delves into personal accounts, spotlighting the plight of women challenging what they perceive as an affront to their bodily autonomy.
One such story unfolds with Aisha, a schoolgirl who confronted the ban on abayas in educational institutions. Despite the French Minister of Education’s directive against sleeveless abayas, Aisha stood her ground, refusing to compromise her identity by assimilating. Her courageous act to uphold her beliefs despite institutional pressure speaks volumes about the clash between personal expression and state regulations.
The battle extended onto the basketball court, where Salimata Sylla, representing Aubervilliers, faced discrimination due to her hijab. Unable to compete without removing her headscarf, she ultimately founded Ball.Her, an exclusive female sports club advocating for inclusive play without fear of exclusion.
Sihem Zine, the Founder of Action Droits des Musulmans (ADM), confronted an all-male court to address the abaya ban, only to witness a potential broader prohibition against modest clothing based on a student’s behavior, hinting at a systematic crackdown on religious symbols.
France’s contentious history with secularism dates back to 1905, but the tightening of regulations, particularly concerning “non-discrete” religious symbols, only gained prominence in 2004. The ban on headscarves, Jewish kippahs, and visible crosses in state institutions stands as a stark manifestation of this policy.
Despite Les Hijabeuses’ objection to the hijab ban in sports, the Conseil d’État ruled in favor of the French Football Federation’s stance, deeming the ban “sustainable and proportionate.”
In response, Muslim women are vehemently pushing back, asserting their rights to visibility and inclusion in public spaces. Ania Tayri, founder of Concentré de Talents, aptly states, “We’re educated, we’re working in different sectors, and we don’t want to make ourselves invisible anymore. We’re not going to say yes to everything.”
The feature concludes by celebrating the resilience of Muslim women and girls challenging the one-dimensional definition of Frenchness, championing diversity against the backdrop of the predominant white, Catholic model.
The Dazed Digital Magazine’s powerful narrative sheds light on the ongoing struggle for inclusion, diversity, and the freedom to express religious identity in a country grappling with the interpretation of secularism and cultural pluralism.
