Source: The Houston Chronicle
Wire Service: AP
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/2945358
On December 13, 2004 the Associated Press reported, "They arrived as they do every December: gaily wrapped gifts destined for children at a kindergarten in rural northern France. But this year, teachers unwrapped a few, took a look and sent all 1,300 packages back to City Hall. The presents were innocent, but strictly speaking, illegal: seasonal chocolates shaped like Christian crosses and St. Nicholas. As Christmas approaches, France is awakening to the realization that a new law banning conspicuous religious symbols at schools — a measure used mainly to keep Muslim girls from wearing traditional Islamic head scarves to class — can cut both ways... The law, which took effect in September, bans overt symbols such as Islamic head scarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses at public schools."