French Senate bans religious symbols in public schools

PARIS – The French Senate approved a law to give public schools the right to ban almost anything worn clearly as a religious symbol. The ban includes Islamic headscarves and all other religious symbols including Christian crosses.

Senators of both left and right voted 276 to 20 in favour of the bill, ignoring demonstrations by angry Muslims claiming they are being discriminated.

President Jacques Chirac has 15 days to sign into law the bill. Chirac has said a law is needed to protect the constitutionally guaranteed principle of secularism, and to stop the spread of Religious fundamentalism in France.

Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin told senators before the vote that the law did not aim to discriminate against religions but to "send a powerful and quick signal".

"Our vision of secularity is not opposed to religions. Everybody has the right to express his faith as long as he respects the laws of the Republic inside the Republic's schools," Mr Raffarin said.

Many Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders have sharply criticized the legislation. They say it violates freedom of expression in France, including religious expression. Some foreign governments, including the United States, have also expressed concern about such a ban.

The ban has widespread public support in France . But it has angered many Muslims and led to demonstrations in several countries.

It is still unclear how the law will be applied to schools. The government is not yet certain whether Muslim girls wishing to cover their hair will be allowed to wear smaller apparel like bandannas -- or whether Sikh boys will permitted to keep their turbans.

France has the largest Muslim population in the European Union, with around five million people