The French government has not affirmed its citizens' right to wear religious symbols. On March 15, 2004 it became law that French citizens were banned from wearing conspicuous religious symbols in public schools.

In French public schools, the wearing of any religious symbols, including headscarves, crosses, and yarmulkes, is prohibited. This law applies to both students and teachers in educational institutions funded by the government. However, private schools have more flexibility in setting their own policies regarding religious symbols.

The principles of secularism (a view that public education and other matters of civil policy should be conducted without the introduction of a religious element) are written in the French fundamental law.

For religious schools (which are all private), it is not allowed to make religious education compulsory.

(New York, February 27, 2004)-The proposed French law banning Islamic headscarves and other visible religious symbols in state schools would violate the rights to freedom of religion and expression, Human Rights Watch said today.

French children do not learn Religious Education (RE) in the same way as in some other countries. The French education system promotes secularism and does not include formal religious education in public schools. However, private schools, including Catholic schools, may offer religious instruction.