The Principle of Laïcité (podcast!)

Hello, Delegates! 

Hoping everyone's long weekend went well! 

This blog post is dedicated to helping further our understanding of "Laïcité". This key term was mentioned in Case Study II for Topic B: Bill No. 21 in Quebec. A key principle in Bill No. 21, laïcité was referenced to justify the ban on the wearing of religious symbols in the public-sector workforce. As mentioned in the topic synopsis, this principle, laïcité, was born out of the French Revolution and originally intended to overthrow the control and influence of the Catholic Church in France. While it has evolved through the test of various litigations, laïcité, evidently, is still an eminent force guiding French and French colonial countries' policies regarding religion. 

To recap, Quebec's Bill No. 21 bans the wearing of anything that could be described by the text below: 

  • "A religious symbol, within the meaning of this section, is any object, including clothing, a symbol, jewelry, an adornment, an accessory or headwear, that

    1. is worn in connection with a religious conviction or belief; or
    2. is reasonably considered as referring to a religious affiliation” (“Act Respecting the Laicity of the State”)."

The podcast linked below is an episode from The Daily titled French, Islam, and Laïcité. Published by the New York Times, this episode covers recent events related to laïcité and French treatment of religious minorities, while giving an overview of the history and current application of laïcité as well. The episode touches on how laïcité is contemporarily framed as a "model of integration" for French society, while clearly being a discriminatory tool against Muslims. Listening to this episode is an exciting and interactive way to better grasp the historical context around the current events related to our dais topic on the rights of religious minorities and I hope you enjoy it!

I would like to note, however, that the story covered at the beginning of the podcast does include violence that might be upsetting to some and would encourage delegates to skip to the analytical breakdown and history review portion of the episode (at 7:05) if they feel uncomfortable at all. 

TW: Death and Violence

Podcast Link

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