- increased number of immigrants → led to fears that this would weaken French national identity.
- perception only grew as France became more multicultural and diverse → as immigrants become an increasing portion of population in France.
- France reasserted their secularism of French identity within assimilationist policy → but this caused tensions as emphasis on this has demanded people keep any signs of personal religious belief or ethnic customs private with rights of individuals to practise their religion.
2005 → introduced law → banned wearing of clearly visible religious attire + symbols in public schools. → aim: maintain religious neutrality in French public schools.
Impact of law:
- Muslim students → not allowed to wear religious headscarves
- Jewish students → cannot wear kippahs
- Christian students → prohibited from wearing crosses
- Sikh students → not allowed to wear turbans