This article examines the case of Mme M,
whose application for French nationality was
rejected on the basis of her choice to wear a
niqab and long cloak. She was informed that
the rejection of her claim was based on her
conduct being indicative of a radical
religious practice, incompatible with
essential French values including equality of
the sexes. The author argues that liberal
secular feminism and official French state
ideology converge to promote anti-Muslim
political agendas, while, at the same time,
helping to solidify an illusion that Western