For the most part, experienced atheists control the discussion and dominate the opposition without name-calling because our side simply has more ammunition behind it and we sit in a far more reasonable position than most theists, who have a huge burden of proof to meet.
Public opinion seems to be on the side of those calling for a wide-ranging new law: recent polls suggest that more than 80% of the French are opposed to women wearing the Islamic headscarf at work if they have contact with the public.