secularism

France

Headscarf dispute in French high school renews debate on secularism

An 18-year-old student assaulted a teacher after being asked to remove her headscarf at a high school Tourcoing, in the latest incident involving France's ban on hijab.

08/10/2024

France

French sprinter can swap hijab for cap during Olympic opening ceremony

Sounkamba Sylla had been in dispute with the organisers of the Games over wearing a hijab due to France's strict laws on secularism.

26/07/2024

Italy

Losing my religion: More people across Europe have little or no belief

In Italy, the cradle of Catholicism, new research suggests that only 19% of citizens attend services at least weekly, while 31% never attend at all - and it's a trend already growing in some European nations.

08/10/2023

Turkey

Turkey's Erdogan proposes a referendum on right to wear headscarf

The Turkish president has proposed a referendum on a constitutional change to guarantee the right to wear a headscarf in civil institutions.

23/10/2022

France

French court rules in favour of burkini ban

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin has welcomed the verdict as a "victory" for France's secular values.

21/06/2022

Europe News

Burkini ban challenged by Grenoble city council in top French court

Grenoble had caused controversy by allowing Muslim women to wear the 'burkini' swimsuit in May.

14/06/2022

France

Controversy as French city allows women to wear 'burkinis' in pools

Under the new rules, male and female swimmers will be allowed to appear topless or in full-body costumes for sun protection or religious beliefs.

16/05/2022

The Cube

Council of Europe removes hijab campaign images amid backlash

The human rights body said the tweets had been deleted while they "reflect on a better presentation" for the project.

03/11/2021

Italy

Vatican accused of 'meddling' in Italy's LGBT bill

The Vatican sent a letter to Rome formally opposing a proposed Italian bill expanding anti-discrimination protections to the LGBT community, according to media reports.

22/06/2021

World

Election candidate's headscarf sows division within Macron's party

The head of La République En Marche! has criticised one of its own candidates, Sara Zemmahi, after she was pictured wearing a headscarf in a campaign poster.

12/05/2021

France

Macron condemns those who use secularism to 'sow hatred and division'

Macron spoke about the French concept of "laïcité" or secularism, at the inauguration of a European Centre for Judaism.

30/10/2019