French police called to school that gave Arabic lessons

                                                                                                        (C)Reuters

A French council sent police officers to a primary school to protest its decision to offer optional Arabic language classes to students. Local news outlet La Chaîne Info (LCI) said the deputy mayor of Six-Four-Les-Plages had confirmed that officers were sent to the Reynier primary school twice in November to inform school officials of the mayor's opposition to the lessons. Jean-Sébastien Vialatte told LCI that officials were concerned that the class, which was being held outside of school hours, was not agreed to by the local council in the Var district of southern France. Vialatte also told the outlet that officials had reservations about the teacher, who was not a state employee.
Information about the incidents came to light on Wednesday after a French lawyer shared court documents exposing a failed legal suit by the council to halt the classes . The incidents come amid a climate of tension in France over its Muslim minority, composed mainly of immigrants from North Africa and their descendants. France has banned the wearing of headscarves by Muslim children in schools and the wearing of full face veils in public. Some schools have also removed options for pork-free school dinners that Muslim pupils usually opt for.
The French government says it is acting to preserve the secular character of the country.