French burqa ban to be enforced on Monday

[News_Editor]

French burqa ban to be enforced on Monday

2011-04-10 22:21:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

PARIS (BNO NEWS) -- France's controversial veil ban is set to take effect Monday, France 24 news reported.

The new law bans women of wearing a full face veil in all places open to the public, including parks, shops, cinemas, restaurants and public transport. Women wearing their burqa cannot be arrested simply for wearing the full veil, but they can be held at a police station for up to four hours, held liable for a 150 euro ($217) fine and required to take a citizenship course.

The face can be covered in the home, in hotel rooms, on corporate premises, in private vehicles and at places of worship.

Last week, French Interior Minister Claude Gueant sent a circular to all law enforcement agencies "for instructions on carrying out identity checks and for the issuing of fines".

"Either the person wearing the veil removes it, or else that person is conducted to a police station so that their identity can be verified," the circular instructs, which was published by daily newspaper Le Figaro.

According to France 24, the legislation does not explicitly target Muslim women, instead banning any full face covering. The law also stipulates that forcing someone to wear a veil is a much more serious criminal offense, punishable by a prison sentence.

There are only about 2,000 women in France who wear the facial veil, but the ban would also apply to foreign women visiting France.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-10

[Steely Dan]

Well done France! Falling into line with some of the less archaic Arab regimes such as Turkey and Tunisia. Belgium next? And hopefully the rest of Europe to follow.