Stasi Commission
The French commission Stasi is a commission set up to reflect upon the application of the
Overview
Jacques Chirac established the commission to reflect upon the principle of
The commission emerged from public debates concerning the place of the hijab in French public life in relation to the principles of laïcité, in particular whether it was appropriate in state schools. In addition the commission sought to more clearly define the application of laïcité in the workplace, public services and public spaces. To this end the Stasi Commission lead to the introduction of the French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools. Despite this apparent resolution to the questions concerning laïcité, the controversy surrounding the wearing of the hijab and the media attention paid to it has meant that it remains a source of disagreement within the political class.
In response to the commission's report Jacques Chirac called for the French public to unite around the principle of laïcité.
Principles
The report espouses two key stances that emerge from the history of secularism in France: state neutrality in regard to religion and freedom of thought particularly in relation to freedom of worship. The report also acknowledges that tensions arise between these two principles particularly in the spheres of the army, prisons, hospitals and education.
The Commission also called for the incorporation of 'accomodements raisonables' or reasonable accommodation into the principles of laïcité for problems that are not covered by the 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State.
References
- ^ Murat Akan, "Laïcité and multiculturalism: the Stasi Report in context," British Journal of Sociology (2009) 60#2 pp 237-256 online.
- ^ Jennifer A. Selby, "Islam in France reconfigured: Republican Islam in the 2010 Gerin report." Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs 31.3 (2011): 383-398.
- ^ France 5, Dossiers - Débat Public : La laïcité (La Commission Stasi)
- ^ http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/12/rapports/r1275-t2.asp [bare URL]