Legislating Religious Freedom: Muslim Challenges to the Relationship between "Church" and "State" in Germany and France

This article examines the difficulties that Muslims face in expressing their religion, as the relationship between church & state in Germany & France has made for questionable, seemingly discriminatory decisions regarding this religious group. For example, it illustrates how the German gover...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Daedalus (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 2000-09, Vol.129 (4), p.31-54
Main Author: Ewing, Katherine Pratt
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Catholicism
Christianity
Church & state
Church and state
Church State Relationship
Communities
Cultural differences
Ethnic minorities
Federal Republic of Germany
France
Freedom of religion
French language
German
Germany
Islam
Laicism
Law
Minority rights
Mosques
Muslims
Practice
Public schools
Religion
Religious Education
Religious freedom
Religious Fundamentalism
Religious practice
Repression (Political)
Separation of church and state
Social aspects
U.S.A
United States
Online Access:Request full text
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Summary:This article examines the difficulties that Muslims face in expressing their religion, as the relationship between church & state in Germany & France has made for questionable, seemingly discriminatory decisions regarding this religious group. For example, it illustrates how the German government, though heavily involved in & supportive of "church" matters, has not allowed the construction of any genuine-looking mosques with minarets, etc. in Berlin until very recently. Even France, which upholds laicist principles (the absolute separation of church & state) has been guilty of disallowing Muslims' freedom of expression regarding the use of head scarves, which resulted in the 1989 high school expulsion of three teenage girls who refused to remove them. It also discusses Germany's support of religious education in schools, along with the hardships Muslims have faced in trying to be included in this classroom effort. The article cites Germany's & France's distrust & fear of radical fundamentalism, hidden behind the guise of a desire to worship, as a major reason for their cautious approach toward allowing overt expression. M. D. Cowder
ISSN:0011-5266
1548-6192