Introduction
France is indivisible from secular, democratic and social republic, that regardless of race, religion or origin, people are treated equally in front of the law and respecting all religious beliefs, states the constitution of 1958. In 1905 the “freedom to practice religion” had been recognised when the Law on the Separation of the Church and State (la loi sur la séparation de l’Église et de l’État) came into play. This turned all religions into the private sector and established state secularism to the public. The French State claims to not favour any religion over the other and guarantees the peaceful co-existence from the laws and principles of the Republic.
The law of 15 March 2004 prohibits all clothing or other religious attire presenting religious worship to be worn in primary and secondary schools. This law is an amendment to the French code of education which expands the principles from the existing French law, especially the constitutional requirement which practices the separation of the state and religious activities. This bill was signed by President Jaques Chirac which came into effect on September 2 2004.
This Law does not mention any particular religious symbol, which therefore bans Muslim (veil, signs), Christian (veil, signs), Sikh (Turbun, signs), Jewish and other religious signs. However, many consider this to target Muslim girls as head scarfs are an obligatory part of their faith. Therefore, labelled as “French headscarf ban” by the foreign press.
Secularism in modern-day France
Observers say that France is going through an “identity crisis” and that secularism is playing a key role in that. Some political commentators and politicians are using the laïcité (constitutional principle of secularism in France) particularly against Muslims to remove visible signs of religion.
However, this is not in line with the principle of secularism, which is in the French Constitution. The legal definition with the principle of secularism demands religious neutrality of the state and not individuals, as long as they are not disrupting the public order. Differentiation between groups, communities and people is clearly present in modern France which makes the interpretation of secularism that “Everybody Is The Same” is difficult to achieve.
France is having a historically Catholic majority, now has the largest Muslim population is Western Europe with 5 million Muslims (7.5%) in a population of 67 million. The current President of France, Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that France failed their immigrant communities by creating “our own separatism” with ghettos of “misery and hardship” where people form groups in relation to their origins and social backgrounds.The President announced some measures aiming at “freeing Islam in France from foreign influences”, these includes to sign a contract respecting “the republic values” in order to access subsidies. President Macron’s stance to freedom of expression is a token of how the state refuses to duct the religious demands, rather than like the US where religious groups have an influence on policies.
Critics say that the Republic’s values are a often misunderstood concept of laïcité which is being used to cause resentment to French Muslims and therefore alienates them.
French President Emmanuel Macron and secularism
President Emmanuel Macron caused controversy even beyond the ‘Muslim world’, defending the French model for secularism and integration of minorities on a rope of attacks, blamed on Islamist radicals.
Macrons approach to a combative rhetoric toward radical Islam have been questioned by protests in Muslim countries and also by western media and international political allies. New York Times wrote a headline "Is France fuelling Muslim terrorism by trying to prevent it?" and by the Washington post advised President Macron to fight racism rather than recalling Islam.
The approach is trying to assimilate immigrants unlike countries like the UK and Canada creating a multicultural society where everybody can have a separate identity like a salad bowl.
A firm line of domestic support for immigrants to embrace the French values is much stronger especially after the appalling beheading on the 16th of October 2020 to a school teacher Samuel Patty who showed his students cartoons of Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) in a lesson about free speech. President Macron, paying a tribute to Patty, defended the strict quality of secularism and France's long tradition of satire. Macron vowed that "We will not give up cartoons”. This comment came after a speech where he describe Islam being in a “crisis” and bashed “Islamist separatism” in parts of France. This approach did receive some support from western media where The Economist published an article "Voltaire's heirs -- France is right to defend free speech.".
Raja Ben Slama, a Tunisian professor of humanities and Arab civilisations, defended his comments stating that the "president of a democratic country -- with a tradition of secularism and freedom to blaspheme." However she emphasised that the French “must respect others' particularities and stop stigmatising veiled women, for example."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has close ties with President Macron, held a strong tone to the cartoons and warned that "freedom of expression is not unlimited" and urged everyone to "be aware of the impact of our words and actions on others."
President Macron said that the cartoon of Prophet Muhummad (PBUH) was satire and should continue though he addressed that he understood why Muslims would be angered by this. Cartoons of Prophet (PBUH) is strongly prohibited in the Muslim faith. President Macron recently sued a billboard owner for making a cartoon of him and depicting him as hitler which said “obey, get vaccinated”. The double standard of depicting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) being ‘satire’, however depicting President Macron as a ‘dictator’ as ‘blasphemy’ had been criticised. The owner of the billboard claimed that he was exercising his right of free speech.
Futures Perspective
I strongly believe in the notion that everybody should be treated equally, and the same law must apply to everybody regardless of race, origin, religion and so on. I generally agree that secularism is important for a cohesive functioning society, however to a certain degree. However, I believe secularism has gone too far in France. France has a strong regard towards free speech and that they want free speech to be practiced everywhere in France, however this is backfiring as they prevent people from sustaining their individuality by not being able to voice themselves. The concept of free speech and assimilation do not work directly hand in hand as an individual from a minority who practices free speech may not have the same values, behaviours and beliefs to those of the majority. Someone who has free speech also has the freedom to have their own values, behaviours and beliefs.
Yes, secularism in France has gone too far, far to the point that they are no longer secular. In order to maintain secularism in France the concept and practice of secularism has become misunderstood by many. I strongly believe it is important for people to have respectful conversation and debates as every nook and cranny would be discussed and evaluated. I strongly believe in respectful free speech, speech which does not aim to insult anybody.
Sources: Euro News, France 24, French government website