French Secularism and Islamic Expression

The assignment discusses the controversial issue of religious expression in France, specifically with regards to headscarves worn by Muslim women. The French government's attempts to balance laïcité (secularism) and freedom of religion have led to ongoing clashes since 1989. This paper will critically analyze this issue through an article on

The controversial issue of religious expression in the country of France is not a new
issue, especially in regards to headscarves worn by Muslim women. The clash of French political
ideals of laïcité and freedom of religious expression is a battle that has been ongoing since 1989.
In 1989 three Muslim female students were suspended from their school in the French town of
Creil for refusing to remove their headscarves in school (SOURCE). This issue has caught the
attention of global news this past summer of 2016 when the French government banned women
from wearing the ‘burkini’ (swimwear designed for Muslim modesty standards) on public
beaches (Bilefsky, 2016). This issue intersects across lines of religion, political agenda’s and
gender in a unique way.
This paper will critically analysis this issue through the use of the Riva Kastoryano article
“French Secularism and Islam: France’s Headscarf Affair.”. Finally the authors of this paper will
analyze and reflect upon this issue based on their individual perspectives as a female Muslim
from Egypt and a secularist female American. It is through this analysis and reflection that this
paper aims to provide clarity on lessons learned from this contentious issue in France in a wider
framework of diversity and inclusion.
References

Bilefsky, D. (2016, August 31). France’s Burkini Debate Reverberates Around the World ...
Retrieved October 24, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/01/world/europe/burkini-
france-us-germany-africa.html