Overview
- The 1905 law enshrines freedom of conscience and state neutrality, ending public funding of religions and establishing that the Republic neither recognizes nor subsidizes any faith, with Concordat-era exceptions persisting in Alsace‑Moselle.
- Subsequent measures helped shape current practice, including the 2004 ban on conspicuous religious signs in public schools and the 2021 separatism law that tightened transparency and oversight of religious organizations.
- International coverage contrasts France’s neutrality-centered model with Anglo‑American pluralism that permits more visible religious expression, often viewing French rules as restrictive in public space.
- Abroad, the French approach has inspired adaptations such as Quebec’s 2019 law on state secularism and Belgium’s recognition of laïcité as a life-stance, while references also surface in Tunisia and Vietnam.
- Commentators warn against a return to an antagonistic 'laïcité de combat' and argue for preserving a 'laïcité de liberté' that protects conscience and pluralism, underscoring that the anniversary brings reflection rather than new legislation.