The French law to ban notable religious symbols is a pending French law, prohibiting the outward display of religious symbols, by children and teenagers in French publicly funded schools. It is widely believed to be specifically directed at French Muslim girls who wear Hijab.
In 2003 an investigative committee ruled that ostentatious displays of religion were in violation of the secular rules of the French school system. This law would forbid wearing "ostensibles" (which means both visibles, and meant to be visibles), signs of belonging to one religion. Items prohibited by this law would include Muslim Hijab, Jewish yarmulkes or large Christian crosses. It will still be permissible to wear discreet symbols of faith such as small crosses, Stars of David or Fatima's hands. The previous system had left the decision to individual schools and their principals.
In December 2003 President Jacques Chirac decided to act on the recomendations of the committee, according to laïcité requirements that a text should be adopted according to the emergency procedure, in January or February, in order to be applied in September 2004, the start of the next school year.
The ban has been seen to be targeting the Muslim population of France, which is the nation's largest minority group. A large majority of French people, and in particular teachers, are in favor of this ban. Many Muslim leaders have expressed their opposition to the ban as have some Jewish, Christian, and civil liberties groups.
Many Muslims argue that the Hijab is a cultural rather than religious garment.
The law makers admitted that they did not take into account France's small Sikh population, who's males are mandated to cover their heads, and who may also be banend from wearing their covering.
A less reported section of the report also recomended that the school system stop only aknowledging Christian holidays, and recomended that Yom Kipur and Eid be celebrated each year.
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