The president of the parliamentary committee before which a veiled student spoke, causing the departure of several deputies, regretted Saturday that the "
buzz
" around the Islamic veil has obscured the subject under consideration, the consequences of Covid-19 on young people .
Read also: Do we have the right to appear veiled in the National Assembly?
“
Since the end of the 80s the question of the veil has hysterized the debate, while the fundamental questions are never addressed
”, deplores Sandrine Mörch (LREM) in a press release “
I regret that the 'buzz' has taken precedence over the substantive work and I hope that this incident will at least have the merit of highlighting the work of this commission of inquiry,
”adds the member for Haute-Garonne.
Several deputies left the room to protest against the "
hijab
" worn by the vice-president of the UNEF, Maryam Pougetoux, perceived as a
communitarian
"
provocation
", during the hearing Thursday of representatives of student unions within the framework of the commission of inquiry on "
the effects of the Covid-19 crisis on children and youth
".
Sandrine Mörch indicates that according to the rules of the Assembly "
only the deputies cannot ostensibly state a religious belief
" and that "
for the visitors or the people interviewed the wearing of religious symbols is not prohibited
".
"
The student made objective and pragmatic comments describing alarming situations
" in French universities, she notes.
The MP points out that “
50% of young people are worried about their mental health;
38% of young people are currently working under a precarious contract;
21.2% of 18 to 25 year olds are unemployed in France, ie 600,000 young people, the largest contingent in Europe, to which must be added the 700,000 people who finish their studies and enter the labor market;
there is a massive increase in the number of students using the food bank for food.
"
This is what should create the debate, this is where the subject is located
," said Sandrine Mörch.