ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the restrictions imposed on manifestations of religion by civil servants in Europe. Public officials, due to their special bonds of loyalty to the State, are often expected to exercise restraint in their religious expression, yet setting precise boundaries in this respect often proves to be a major challenge. It is also further complicated by different historical backgrounds and diverging interpretations of the State duty of neutrality in religious affairs. The most important areas of conflict between professional duties and spiritual needs appear to be religious symbols and clothing, proselytising in the workplace, and conscientious objection to labour tasks resulting from progressive State policies. The response of European countries to these issues ranges from the old French ideal of laïcité to the recent British attempts at ensuring inclusivity in the civil service, but none of these approaches can expect to be commonly accepted across Europe.
