From Central Asia to Western Europe to East Africa, government officials are restricting women's personal freedoms. What initially began as a solitary ban on conspicuous religious symbols in France — and widely perceived as an attack on the hijab and Muslims — has spread globally. In response, new and innovative legal responses are necessary.
While prohibitions on Muslim women's religious attire are typically viewed as infringing on religious freedom, they also implicate international women's rights.
In 2004, France proposed a law prohibiting headscarves and other conspicuous "religious symbols" showing a student's faith beliefs in public schools. The measure's proponents argued that it was necessary to protect the separation of church and state in public education. France implemented the law that same year. Unsurprisingly, this law disproportionately impacts female Muslim students who observe hijab.
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