Ankara: The French Council of Muslim Faith (CFCM) on Tuesday condemned what it described as 'irresponsible' statements by political figures targeting Muslim women who wear headscarves, warning that such remarks could expose women to further hostility.

According to Anadolu Agency, the CFCM expressed strong disapproval of statements that seek to link Muslim women wearing headscarves with extremist ideology. The council emphasized that individuals making these statements bear political and moral responsibility for potentially designating these women for public condemnation and endangering them.

The council highlighted that women wearing headscarves are already experiencing 'insults, threats, intimidation, and attacks.' It rejected the notion that the headscarf is an invention of a modern extremist ideology, noting that the practice has historical roots in the foundational texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The CFCM insisted that extremist movements using the headscarf as an ideological symbol do not alter its intrinsic nature and that banning it for those who choose it for religious or personal reasons is unjustifiable.

The CFCM asserted that the French Republic should protect a woman's right to wear or not wear a headscarf, respecting her free choice. The council criticized the focus on controlling women's clothing as elections approach, questioning the prioritization of such measures by political parties. They argued that law enforcement should focus on critical missions like combating terrorism, crime, and violence instead.

The council warned against using electoral debates to foster fear and division in France, suggesting that such strategies might conceal a lack of solutions to the country's real challenges. They further argued that banning the headscarf in public spaces would violate constitutional rights, including freedom of conscience and the principle of secularism, and could incite hatred and discrimination against millions of French citizens.

The CFCM called on political leaders to demonstrate responsibility and restraint, urging citizens who value 'freedom, equality, and fraternity' to participate in public debate and civic action. The council concluded by warning against making French citizens, particularly Muslim women, hostages to electoral strategies.