Liberté, Egalité et Laïcité: the use of hijab in public schools as a threat to the french republican ontology (1989-2004)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the perception construction of the hijab use in public schools as an ontological threat to France. Considering laïcité as one of the pillars for French society and identity and the school as the basis of the construction of this narrative, the use of the hijab could be considered as a threat to religious neutrality in the public spheres, injuring the basic principles of the Republic. This situation led to the approval of a law banning the use of all kind of apparent religious garments in primary school across France, despite religious freedom being a fundamental right in the country. As a methodology, it conducts a discourse analysis of the statements and opinions of French leaders and institutions of the executive and judicial branches in relation to the use of clothing in relation to the principle of laïcité and freedom of worship in France between 1989 and 2004.