France is unveiling a new policy on Muslim attire: No veils for you!
The country's lower house of parliament approved a measure on Tuesday banning burka-like Islamic veils, despite criticism from Muslims and human rights groups.
Only one parliament member voted against the bill, while 336 voted in favor of it. Most politicians in the primary opposition group, the Socialist Party, declined to vote.
Members of the Senate will vote on the legislation in September. It is likely to pass there. Then the bill will face its biggest obstacle as the country's constitutional watchdog inspects it.
France has Europe's largest Muslim population, estimated at 5 million of the country's 64 million people. Fewer than 2,000 women there are believed to wear face-covering veils.
Under the law, the bill would prohibit Muslim veils in public places, even in the streets. Violators would face a $185 fine, citizenship classes or both.
Anyone convicted of forcing someone to wear a veil would face a year behind bars and a $38,000 fine. The penalties could be doubled if the victim is underage.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the burka is "not welcome" in France in 2009.
Supporters of the ban have argued the garment is an affront to the country's values of protecting women's rights and secularism. Critics have said the ban is discriminatory and anti-democratic.
Cities in Belgium, Canada and Italy have considered a similar ban. Earlier this month, a British parliament member, Philip Hollobone, made the first legal bid to make it illegal for anyone to cover their face in public.
He said wearing a veil is akin to "going 'round with a paper bag over your head."
Loading comments ...