Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated he is "not favorable" to banning the veil for minors in public spaces, calling it too stigmatizing. This stance contrasts with a bill proposed by LR deputy leader Laurent Wauquiez. Experts question its constitutionality.
On Sunday, November 30, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed opposition on BFM-TV to banning the veil for minors in public spaces. He described the measure as "very stigmatizing towards our Muslim compatriots who may feel hurt."
On Monday, Laurent Wauquiez, LR deputy leader and Haute-Loire representative, submitted a bill to prohibit the veil for minors in public. Public law professors questioned by Agence France-Presse (AFP) raised serious doubts about its constitutionality. A similar idea was raised in May by Gabriel Attal, leader of the Macronist deputies, but limited to under 15s and without a legislative text.
An LR Senate report also suggests banning Ramadan fasting for under 16s, drawing from a spring report on Islamic entryism by Bruno Retailleau, then interior minister. Nuñez cautioned: "We are approaching the offense of opinion, so we must be extremely cautious in the measures we propose." He stressed avoiding overly stigmatizing actions and targeting instead "structures, individuals who promote an Islamist entryism discourse."
In his view, efforts should focus on those pressuring girls to wear the veil at school or refuse to attend. On CNews-Europe 1 that day, Minister for Gender Equality Aurore Bergé supported the ban to "protect children." She noted having proposed it for years and believes a majority now exists in the National Assembly and Senate to pass it.