(Radio France) As the government launches a series of discussion groups on the place of religion in contemporary French society, the battle lines are already drawn. The proposed broad public debate on the troubled relationship between faith and state has been criticised as divisive and unnecessary across the political spectrum.
Launched by Marlène Schiappa, the junior minister responsible for citizenship, the series of public debates opened on Tuesday with a high-level conference in Paris.
Intellectuals, lawyers and social analysts have been asked to spearhead the initiative which will involve round-table discussions and working groups on such topics as “freedom of expression, research, youth and social cohesion,” according to Marlène Schiappa.
