Laïcité

• The French government announced that the practice of wearing abaya would be banned in state-run schools as it violated the principle of Laïcité, which is the French idea of secularism.

THE MEANING OF LAÏCITÉ

• Coined in the 19th century, Laïcité is a complicated and politically charged term.
• It is understood as a formal separation of the State and Church.
• It involves the complete removal of religious values from the public sphere and their replacement with secular values such as liberty, equality, and fraternity.
• The underlying goal of Laïcité is to implant tolerance and assimilate people.
• As per the principle, religion is to be confined to the private sphere.