Le Pen criticized over proposal to ban the hijab

Far-right leader and favorite in France's presidential election Marine Le Pen has come under a barrage of criticism after once again confirming her proposal to ban women from wearing the hijab in public places.

As "European Pravda" writes, this is reported by Politico.

A source close to Le Pen, who was granted anonymity to discuss the candidate's plan, told Politico that she intends to propose the ban by including it in a law to combat "radical Islamism."

This law would then be put to a referendum — a way to steer the debate away from the topic of religion and focus it on "Islamist ideology," the source noted.

The proposal has dominated the French political news space after a lawmaker from Le Pen's party, the National Rally, said on Sunday that wearing the hijab in public places would become an offense punishable by a fine if she takes office as president. Le Pen currently leads the polls ahead of the first round of the French presidential election, which will take place in the spring of 2027.

Center-left political leaders and civil liberties advocates in France have sharply criticized Le Pen's proposal, calling it Islamophobic and discriminatory.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leading left-wing candidate in next year's presidential election according to the latest polls, accused Le Pen in a post on X of intending to create an "Iranian-style clothing police."

The French anti-racism organization SOS Racisme said Le Pen seeks to "drive Muslim women out of public spaces."

Center-right candidate Édouard Philippe said the state should focus on fighting "Islamism and extremists, not French Muslims," while conservative candidate Bruno Retailleau noted that it would be an ineffective use of police resources.

The debate over the hijab, which, according to a 2023 report by the French national statistics agency, is worn by 26% of French Muslim women aged 18 to 49, arises regularly in France.