(2010) 22 (No.2) Sri Lanka JIL 233 RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE: A REAL THREAT OR JUST A MERE SUSPICION? Santiago Cafiamares Arribas * 1. INTRODUCTION In Western societies, issues concerning religious symbols have become the centre of a passionate debate, which is particularly relevant when the presence of these symbols is compared with the role of the State in the administration of religious pluralism. In the Spanish recent experience, public authorities have had to sort out different conflicts concerning the presence of religious symbols in the public arena. Professor of Law, Universidad Complutense, Madrid (Spain) This paper has been made with the financial support granted by both the Spanish Ministry of Education, through the National Research and Development Program, and the Autonomous Community of Madrid. I would like to thank Dr Javier Garcia Oliva, Lecturer at Manchester University, for his invaluable assistance on the style of this paper. ABSTRACT This paper analysis the Spanish controversy over the presence of the crucifix in the public sphere through the examination of the latest judicial decisions. It also focuses on the recent decisions adopted by the Strasbourg Court regarding the presence of the crucifix in public classrooms (Lautsi cases). A comparative perspective is also provided by focussing on the pronouncements delivered by the Supreme Court of the United States. This article is intended to highlight the most important points that should be taken into account in order to give the most adequate solution to the presence of religious symbols in the public arena, whilst considering the implications of the democratic principle of state's religious neutrality.