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Proselytism (prosélytisme)
Religious proselytism means trying to convince other people to choose your religion. You can talk, hand out documents or invite someone to a prayer or worship.
Key points of the sheet
- In France, religious proselytism is allowed, because everyone is free to have a religion or not. But it must not force someone to believe.
- Religious harassment is forbidden. Proselytism must not use physical or psychological coercion, otherwise a sanction is possible.
- To guarantee the neutrality of the State, proselytism is forbidden in some public places. In public schools, teachers and pupils must not do it.
- In public services and public hospitals, staff must not engage in proselytism. Proselytism is also forbidden in private companies.
Words to know
- religious proselytism (prosélytisme religieux)
- It means trying to convince other people to choose your religion.
- religious harassment (harcèlement religieux)
- It is forbidden: proselytism must not use physical or psychological coercion.
- neutrality of the State (neutralité de l’État)
- To guarantee it, proselytism is forbidden in some public places.
- public services (services publics)
- In public services, staff must not engage in proselytism.
Test yourself: 3 questions
What is religious proselytism?
In French, the language of the exam: Qu'est-ce que le prosélytisme religieux ?
A person who engages in religious proselytism tries to convince other people to choose their religion.
In France, is religious proselytism allowed?
In French, the language of the exam: En France, le prosélytisme religieux est-il autorisé ?
Proselytism is allowed, because everyone is free to have a religion or not. But it must not use physical or psychological coercion.
In a public hospital, who must not engage in proselytism?
In French, the language of the exam: Dans un hôpital public, qui ne doit pas faire de prosélytisme ?
In public hospitals, staff must not engage in proselytism.
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More in this topic (Secularism (laïcité))
- The definition of secularism (laïcité) (2/2)
- The history of secularism (laïcité)
- The definition of secularism (laïcité) (1/2)
Source
Sheet “Le prosélytisme” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.