Ten Years of Religious Discrimination in France
A decade ago, France passed its infamous ban on religious expression in public schools. Since then, despite condemnations from international rights organizations, they’ve gotten even worse.
03.17.14
Ten years ago this week, French president Jacques Chirac signed Law 2004-228, or the “French headscarf ban” that would ignite a decade of religious contention in the country. Though couched in general language—prohibiting the wearing of “conspicuous” religious dress—the law disproportionately impacts minority religious groups and directly interferes with numerous basic human rights.
The ban disproportionately prevents primary and secondary school children of Muslim, Sikh, and Jewish communities from freely exercising their religious beliefs. While wearing the headscarf, turban, and yarmulke are barred without exception, Christian crosses are considered “discreet,” and therefore, exempt from the ban.
The U.N. Human Rights Committee in 2012 issued a binding decision in Bikramjit Singh v. France that found France is in violation of Article 18 (Religious Freedom) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Although the issue of religious freedom grabs the media spotlight, other human rights of French children are also implicated.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/17/ten-years-of-religious-discrimination-in-france.html
http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000417977&dateTexte=&categorieLien=id
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