French Constitutional Council validates controversial separatism law

Several organisations, including the Conference of Bishops of France, the Protestant Federation of France and the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France, questioned the bill. According to them, this new bill would cause "serious attacks" on the freedoms of worship and association, betraying the law of separation of Church and State of 1905.

The bill includes measures to oblige neutrality in organisations that collaborate with public services, allow the government to exert more control over charities and NGOs, require authorisation for homeschooling and outlaw "virginity certificates". It also obliges associations to declare their religious nature to benefit from the advantages intended for religious associations.

Critics slammed the legislation as going contrary to the liberal values of the Republic that it seeks to protect.

These challenges, however, were swept aside by the Constitutional Council, which considered that the points referred to "do not disregard the principle of secularism", because they do not deprive of legal guarantees the free exercise of worship.