It's no longer labelled a law against religious separatism and you will not find in it the words "radical Islam". But as Emmanuel Macron's justice minister openly states, it's abundantly clear that "between the lines", the French government's much anticipated law to reinforce republican principles is precisely about what this nation can no longer endure.
After five years of a steady stream of terror attacks capped most recently by the gruesome beheading of middle school social studies teacher Samuel Paty, we ask about a draft bill that tackles illegal schools, foreign imams, forced marriages and even homeschooling for three-year-olds. Is it too much or not enough?
For some, the legislation is an overdue stating of the obvious in affirming secular values: the laws of the republic are above any one religion. For others, it's a radicalisation in its own right: the elevation of laïcité, that French notion of secularism, into a holy sacrament that leaves no room for discussion. Is the French left correct in objecting to the notion of "Islamo-leftism", or most recently, is the Trump administration right to worry about freedom of worship in France? If Macron's wrong, how do you take on radical Islam?
Produced by Charles Wente, Juliette Laurain and Imen Mellaz.
