Weaponising secularism: French politicians accused of using ‘laicité’ to target Muslims

Conservative lawmakers have put forward a number of proposals targeting France’s Muslims, including a ban on under-18s wearing hijabs in public, citing the threat from radical Islamists. Critics say the measures violate the very secular rules they profess to defend, and highlight the growing use of French “laïcité” – or state secularism – to curtail the rights of Muslim citizens.