Outcry after French police question schools about pupils absent on Muslim holiday

Most of the schools questioned were high schools in the west of Toulouse, classified as priority education zones. AFP - FREDERICK FLORIN

Anti-racist groups and teaching unions in France have demanded an inquiry into why French police requested schools provide information on the number of pupils absent on the Muslim festival of Eid.

The Ministry of the Interior has confirmed it asked some schools in the south-western city of Toulouse "to evaluate" the rate of absenteeism on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, on 21 April, but it refuted claims that the request constituted a census on faith.