User:Aam1992/sandbox

Laïcité, French for “secularity”, is France’s form of secularism and plays a big part in Parisian culture. Laïcité can be defined in relation to three points: freedom of conscience and religion; the equality of different religions; and the neutrality of the state – defined as the reciprocal non-interference of the state and religious institutions in their respective spheres of activity. It appears often in social and political debate concerning religion in France. Unlike many other countries that practice secularism, Laïcité goes as far as not letting religion take place in daily public life by not allowing people to show their religious affiliation in public places unless the items, such as Crucifix's by Christians, are small and inconspicuous. On April 11, 2011 France was the first country in Europe to ban face veils from public space.