In the Middle East, the largest population of men and women are Muslims. The Muslim religion suggests that women wear a veil or hijab, which is a headscarf that exposes only the woman's eyes, accompanied by a burqa which is a full-length cloak. The sole purpose of clothing is to hide a woman's feminine features from the eyes of men. The Quran, an Islamic scripture, supports and lightly enforces the uniform by saying that women should be conservative: "Let them wear their head covering on their chest and not show their ornaments." » (Quran). Muslim women, instead of feeling oppressed, see this as a positive aspect of their lives, influenced by their devotion to Allah. Their acceptance could be influenced by their geographical location. However, when Muslim women are removed from the Middle East and placed in other countries such as France, they become a minority group, "one tenth of the population is Muslim" (France has the largest number of Muslim inhabitants Western Europe). to be exact, and they attract attention because of their unusual customs. The wearing of religious uniform by Muslim women in France has become a controversial subject. The burqa and the veil were recognized in France as a uniform contradictory to the French ways of “preserving the republic and its democratic and secular tradition” (Graff). They addressed the problem by intervening for the first time in the school system in 2004. That year, the law on secularism was passed by 276 votes to 20. “It prohibits the wearing of the Muslim hijab, head covering Sikh, large crosses or Christian crucifixes, Jews. kippahs, etc. » (NEWS OF RELIGIOUS CONFLICT AND INTOLERANCE) in public schools. Furthermore, in 2011, France banned the complete public use of...... middle of paper ...... February 1, 2004. Web. November 23, 2011. Harper, Ben. “Veiled threats: secularism and religious freedom in France. » Studentfreepress.net. Student Free Press Association, September 15, 2010. Web. December 4, 2011. "NEWS OF RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS AND INTOLERANCE - 2004-July." Tolérancereligieuse.org. July 2004. The web. December 8, 2011. .Papas, Voula. "Islam and Women's Rights | Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc." Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc | Founded in 1970. Web. December 11, 2011. “Freedom of religion.” Auburn University. Internet. December 13, 2011. "Society2; Religion in France; Beliefs; Laïcité (secularism)." The Franco-American website; Intercultural; Advice to Americans on France and Paris; France and the French. Internet. November 23, 2011. “Why dress codes and why now?” » Clearinghouse for education policy and management. Internet. December 13. 2011.