Don't miss

Replay


LATEST SHOWS

THE OBSERVERS

Armed militia hunts down migrants on Bulgarian border and an inventor in Togo builds a 3D printer from electronic waste

Read more

TALKING EUROPE

Estonian FM: 'Russia is a threat for security in Europe'

Read more

FOCUS

Video: Ukrainians express shock as politicians report vast wealth

Read more

ENCORE!

Music show: American Music Awards, The Weeknd and Bruno Mars

Read more

YOU ARE HERE

Discovering traditional French cuisine in the medieval city of Carcassonne

Read more

IN THE PAPERS

François Fillon: A 'taciturn, tradition-minded' dark horse

Read more

IN THE PAPERS

'Dark horse' Fillon: The man who could be French president

Read more

FRANCE IN FOCUS

Secrets of Les Invalides: Home to war veterans and Napoleon

Read more

FRANCE IN FOCUS

Video: Napoleon, the rise and fall of a military genius

Read more

FRENCH CONNECTIONS

A quirky, insider’s guide to understanding France and the French, from the sublime to the ridiculous. Thursday at 1.45 pm.

Latest update : 2016-11-19

French secularism: Anti-religious or safeguarding freedoms?

This week we take a closer look at France's cherished state secularism. Laïcité [secularism], a product of French history and philosophy, is central to how France defines itself. But critics say it is anti-religious and increasingly used to stigmatise Muslims. Is laïcité compatible with a multicultural society? We spoke to Jean-Louis Bianco, the President of the National Observatory on Secularism, to find out more.

By Florence VILLEMINOT

Archives

2016-11-10 France

One year later: How the November attacks changed France

This week, France is marking the one-year anniversary of the November 13 attacks, the deadliest-ever terror attacks on the country. It's a time to take stock of how much France...

Read more

2016-11-03 France

France’s baguette obsession: The rules of "baguetiquette"

When you think of your stereotypical French person, you may well picture them in a striped shirt and holding a baguette. For bread is an integral part of the country's diet and...

Read more

2016-07-07 Medicine

French health care: A much-loved universal system

Ranked among the best in the world, France's health care system is the object of national pride and international fascination. Generous and universal, the public/private hybrid...

Read more

2016-09-15 France

Does ‘la Françafrique’ still exist?

France granted most of its African colonies independence in 1960, but it has maintained a network of influence often referred to as “la Françafrique’. It’s a complex and often...

Read more