Ban on abaya dress in French schools divides opinion Religious experts share arguments for or against the long robes recently banned in secular state schools
Laïcité: a bedrock of modern France The importance of a secular state is seen as a key French value - but it can cause controversy, as Jacqueline Karp explains
Abaya dress worn by some Muslim girls is banned from schools in France ‘When you walk into a classroom, you should not be able to tell what religion the pupils are just by looking at them,’ said the Education Minister
news French seaside town bans bathers from wearing burkinis The mayor of Fréjus said burkinis ‘run counter to our fundamental republican principle of secularism
Town hall cannot have a nativity crèche, France’s highest court rules Debates about nativity scenes and France’s laws on secularism regularly surface each winter - and this year will be no exception
Simon Heffer: Defence of laïcité is cultural not political It is a delicate balance for President Macron, says The Connexion and Telegraph columnist Simon Heffer
Macron: France will defend freedom of expression "I am not going to change our laws because they shock elsewhere" Macron says in a wide-ranging interview
Simon Heffer: What is the way forward for secular France? Better ways need to be found to fight religious radicalisation, says The Connexion and Telegraph columnist Simon Heffer
French teacher killing: 11 in custody as solidarity grows The 11th person in custody is a friend of the attacker. Several marches in homage to the murdered teacher are taking place today
Christmas nativity scenes spark debate in France Debate over the legality of public nativity scenes in France has been sparked again this year after activists sent a note to all departments, reminding them of the “steps to take” to respect the law.
‘It’s so macho to dictate what women can wear’ Sara El Attar tells Connexion why she spoke up for the 'thousands of women like her' during a debate on CNews
French nun refused retirement home space due to habit A Catholic nun in France has been stopped from taking up her place in a retirement home after she refused to stop wearing her religious habit as a condition for living there.
Senate votes to ban signs of religion on school trips The French Senate has voted to ban parents from displaying any signs of religion or wearing religious clothing when accompanying their children on public school trips.
French president says Muslim hijab ‘not my business’ President Emmanuel Macron has said that it is “not his business” whether Muslim women wear a hijab in public spaces - but that it “is his business” when it comes to public services. Paris pool closes due to ‘pro-burkini’ protest Court allows hospital to fire man for ‘too long’ beard Polish PM ready to accept controversial statue