During this session, a resident verbally confronted a municipal councilor wearing a headscarf, questioning her legitimacy to sit in the deliberative assembly based on her religious affiliation. The city deems these remarks unacceptable, considering them an affront to the dignity of the elected official and to the fundamental principles of democracy.
The municipality reiterates that the right to represent the inhabitants of Bagnolet is derived from democratic suffrage, not from clothing, religion, or origin. Bayan Touazni, wearing a headscarf, has the same legitimacy to sit, speak, debate, and exercise her mandate as any other elected official of the Republic.
The statement emphasizes that secularism should not be used as a tool for exclusion but should guarantee freedom of conscience and belief. It recalls that French law does not impose a general obligation of religious neutrality on local elected officials comparable to public servants, allowing them to express their religious convictions.
These events occur within a concerning national context, marked by an increase in anti-Muslim incidents. According to the CNCDH, 2025 saw an 88% rise in recorded anti-Muslim acts compared to 2024, affecting individuals with humiliation and violence. Islamophobia also manifests as the disqualification of Muslim individuals from public life.
The incident in Bagnolet is a particularly worrying illustration of challenging a woman's right to hold elected office due to her religion. The city rejects a conception of the Republic that would assign certain women to invisibility and ask them to choose between their convictions and their citizenship.
The city of Bagnolet offers its full support to Bayan Touazni and reaffirms its commitment to fighting all forms of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and discrimination, stating that in Bagnolet, no woman will have to shed part of her identity to fully participate in civic life.
