Report: French law to fine those who wear burqa

Paris - The total ban of the Islamic all-body veil, or burqa, being drawn up by the French government will be part of a broader law that will make it illegal for anyone to appear in public with his or her face masked, the daily Le Figaro reported Thursday.

This formulation is an attempt to sidestep objections formed by the country's highest administrative court, the Council of State,on the legality of a law targeting only the wearers of the veil.

President Nicolas Sarkozy decided Wednesday to have the government draw up a draft bill on a total ban of the burqa on French territory.

In March, the council said there was probably no legal foundation for a total ban of the burqa, but suggested that it could be part of a more general law on public order and security.

According to the report, police officers will have the right to demand anyone appearing in public with a mask or veil to uncover his or her face. Those refusing to do so will be sent a ticket for an as yet undetermined fine.

In addition, any man forcing his wife to wear the veil will also be sanctioned under the draft bill, Le Figaro said.

An estimated 2,000 women wear the all-body veil in France, most of them French women converted to Islam.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320001,report-french-law-to-fine-those-who-wear-burqa.html.