
We’ve talked about religious garb in the U.S. here and here. This morning, the New York Times reportedthat a government panel in France recommended limitations on wearing the Muslim veil in certain public places, but a total ban on the veil wasn’t suggested.
This story brings to the forefront an issue we’ve discussed: in the U.S., when matters of religious garb enter the public sphere there are questions that often arise. Should the government have any say in what people wear? What if a garment offends others? When is it legitimate to ask someone to remove a piece of religious garb? When taking a photo for a government ID? When someone works at a public school or government office? Never?
This is a complicated issue, but an important one that meets at the nexus of religious freedom and secularism. I f you were in charge, how would you handle this very delicate issue?

As religious holidays are on the mind of many people this month, it’s important note that almost 70 percent of people in the world live in countries with high restrictions on religion according to 


Alexandra Abboud has five years experience reporting on the legal and cultural dynamics that shape American society. At America.gov, she manages coverage of cultural diversity, the arts, education and sports. Abboud has also served as a managing editor of the State Department's eJournal USA series, producing internationally circulated publications on innovation and fighting corruption.