France to 15 year old girl: wear a shorter skirt or you can't get an education

Just look at all of these women shamelessly provoking us with their long skirts! screengrab: hijab-fashion.tumblr.com.

Freedom of expression much, France?

French media reports that a 15-year-old Muslim girl in the northeastern French town of Charleville-Mezieres was banned from class–twice!–for wearing a skirt that was too long.

Yep. Not provocative because it was short. Because it was too long.

Her skirt was declared “a provocation,” because it was too long. Provocative in this case meaning a “conspicuous display of religion.”

Islamic Fashion Fair in Istanbul April 11, 2010. [Reuters]

From The Independent:

France’s state secularism has led to very strict laws prohibiting students from wearing overtly religious symbols in institutions of education.

The student, identified as Sarah, already apparently removed her headscarf before entering the school, in accordance with French law. But her long skirt was deemed a “provocation,” and potential act of protest.

“The girl was not excluded, she was asked to come back with a neutral outfit,” a local official told AFP.

People who agree this is bullshit are using the hashtag #JePorteMaJuppeCommeJeVeux (“I wear my skirt as I like”) on social media, posting photos of non-Muslims wearing fashionably long skirts.

“If it’s worn by a ‘white’ person, it’s hippy chic, if it’s a Muslim, it becomes conspicuous,” one person tweeted.

In an interview with her local newspaper L’Ardennais, Sarah said her skirt was “nothing special, it’s very simple, there’s nothing conspicuous. There is no religious sign whatsoever.”

[via @saladinahmed]