France has announced it will ban students from wearing a type of muslim dress, called an abaya, in state run schools from september. there have been months of debate over whether the loose fitting, full length robe should be allowed in schools, where the wearing of headscarves is already banned. let s take a closer look at what the abaya looks like the garment covers the whole body except the head, and can be worn with a head covering such as the hijab or the niqab. we re nowjoined live from brussels by magda boulabiza, a policy adviser at the european network against racism. thanks forjoining us. what s your reaction to what francis suggesting here, this ban on abaya in state schools? ~ ., , here, this ban on abaya in state schools? ~ . y ., ., ., schools? we are very alarmed at the decision to ban schools? we are very alarmed at the decision to ban abayas schools? we are very alarmed at the decision to ban abayas in schools? we are very alarmed at the decision to ban abayas i