Textiles and Dress

French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools

The French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools bans wearing conspicuous religious symbols in French public primary and secondary schools. The law is an amendment to the French Education Code and expands earlier principles of French law, especially the constitutional requirement of laïcité: the separation of state and religious activities. The bill passed France's national legislature and was signed into law by President Jacques Chirac on 15 March 2004. It took effect on 2 September 2004. The law does not mention any particular religious symbol. However, it is considered by many to target the wearing of headscarves by Muslim schoolgirls. For this reason, it is occasionally referred to as the French headscarf ban in the foreign press. Although garments of other religions are also covered by the law, it is seen by some as disproportionately affecting Muslims. Others feel the Islamic veil has become a greater target than other religious symbols as segments of the French public have construed the Islamic veil as inherently opposed to laïcité and values of the republic. In 2011, France would ban the full-face veil ban (covering niqabs, burqas, and other face-concealing items in public areas).

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Houston
• ▸Bali Kingdom
• ▸Bikini

Uncatalogued shelf

Text from Wikipedia; plate via Wikimedia Commons. Text CC BY-SA 4.0; plate freely licensed (see Commons). Source record. Images and catalogue data are reproduced from open-access collections.