He caused particular controversy in 2004 and 2005 by his wishing to go further than the law banning ostentatious religious symbols in schools.

To enforce its new law banning religious symbols from public schools, the Ministry of National Education has decided to get tough.

Some teams, for example Hannover 96, have banned such symbols from their stadiums.

An example of a highly secular educational system would be the French public educational system, going as far as to ban conspicuous religious symbols in schools.

"It does not aim to ban religious symbols in everyday life."

The kidnappers demanded that France rescind a new law banning religious symbols and attire, including Muslim head scarves, from schools.

The law bans conspicuous religious symbols from public elementary and high schools.

For four days last week, France's National Assembly debated the wisdom of a draft law that would ban most religious symbols from public schools.