French MP calls for parliamentary inquiry into Islamophobia’s impact on veiled women
French MP Ersilia Soudais of the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party has proposed the establishment of a parliamentary commission to investigate the psychological impact of anti-Muslim campaigns on veiled Muslim women in France.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Soudais emphasized that parliamentary commissions can hear testimonies and produce reports that may lead to legislative proposals. She explained that different political groups in the National Assembly have the right to initiate such commissions annually.
“I will try every possible path, but first I need to convince my own political group that this commission is necessary,” she said. Soudais highlighted the importance of directly hearing from the women most affected—those who wear the hijab—about their daily experiences and the psychological toll of ongoing Islamophobic rhetoric.
“These campaigns have been going on for a long time and show no signs of stopping,” she noted, citing recent examples such as statements by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, both of whom advocated bans on headscarves in sports and for minors under 15, respectively.
Soudais stressed the need for a video campaign to give veiled women a voice, saying, “They’re always talked about, but never allowed to speak for themselves.”
She acknowledged internal divisions within the left regarding the concept of Islamophobia, noting that even among those who believe it exists, some view veiled women as victims in need of saving rather than individuals deserving support. “We’re not here to save each other, but to help each other,” she said.
A personal experience of witnessing her father assaulted by far-right extremists at age five has shaped her political commitment against racism and fascism, she added.
“Between 70 to 80 percent of Islamophobic attacks target women wearing headscarves,” Soudais said, calling this a distinct and pressing issue that requires action.
The hijab remains a point of political contention in France. The 2004 law banned headscarves in public schools, followed by a full-face veil ban in public spaces in 2010. In 2012, a controversial directive barred veiled mothers from school trips—a ban later overturned by the Council of State.
France’s ban on headscarves in sports made headlines again in 2025 when the Senate passed a bill enforcing it during competitions. The move followed inflammatory comments from Retailleau, who declared, “Long live sport, down with the headscarf,” during a March speech in Paris.
In a recent incident, a veiled mother with her baby in a stroller was physically harassed in the town of Poissy.
Soudais had earlier invited veiled women to share their stories via email to help document the psychological effects of Islamophobia, a step toward shaping the commission's work.
A 2024 report by the Collective Against Islamophobia in Europe (CCIE) found that 76% of anti-Muslim incidents in Europe targeted women, underlining the urgency of Soudais’ call.
