Secularism in France
In France and some other French-speaking countries, Laïcité is a prevailing conception of the separation of church and state. Unlike the English expression, the term "laïcité" does in itself imply free exercise of religion.
The term was originally the French equivalent of the term laity, i.e. everyone who is not Catholic clergy. After the French Revolution this meaning changed and it came to mean keeping religion separate from the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government. This includes prohibitions on having a state religion.
Although the term was current throughout the nineteenth century, France did not fully separate church and state until 1905. Some argue that many laws and practices after this point were still heavily influenced by the church.
Today the term is a core concept in the French constitution and many see being secular a necessity of being French. This has lead to frequent divisions with non-Christian immigrants, especially with France's large Muslim population. The most recent debate has been over whether obvious religious displays, such as the hijab, should be banned from public schools. See French law to ban notable religious symbols.