The BBc has an interesting page on the concept of laicity, that is our own brand of secularism:Â BBC – h2g2 – French Secularism – Laicite. It underlines the importance of history to understand the French mindset. One of the key sentences is:
However, because of past precedent it is very easy for the French to interpret any strong religious views as a direct threat to their freedom and way of life, even when this is not the intention.