Overview
- On April 1, 2025, Prime Minister François Bayrou publicly opposed the proposed ban on religious symbols in sports, reversing his earlier support.
- Bayrou justified his opposition by emphasizing the risk of stigmatizing France's nine million Muslim citizens.
- The proposal, initially passed by the Senate in February 2025, remains stalled without a scheduled debate in the National Assembly.
- Laurent Wauquiez, leader of the Republican Right deputies, has been pressuring Bayrou to advance the proposal for debate, so far without success.
- The proposed ban reflects broader societal tensions in France over secularism and the integration of religious minorities, with critics warning of potential discrimination against Muslim women.