Education minister Gabriel Attal: France to ban wearing of abayas by Muslim women in schools

French education minister Gabriel Attal said on Sunday that the authorities will ban the wearing of abaya dresses by Muslim women in schools, according to a report by AFP.

He argued that the garment violates France's strict secular laws in education.

The development comes after months of debate over the wearing of abayas in French schools, where women have long been banned from wearing the Islamic headscarf.

Abaya is a long, baggy garment worn to comply with Islamic beliefs on modest dress.

According to media reports, there have been reports of tensions within schools over abayas between teachers and parents.