27 Jan 2010

Committee wants ban on face veils

3:04 pm on 27 January 2010

A parliamentary committee in France has recommended a partial ban on women wearing Islamic face veils.

In a 200 page report, it says the veils, known as niqab, should not be worn in hospitals, schools, government offices and on public transport.

It also recommends that anyone showing visible signs of "radical religious practice" should be refused residence cards and citizenship.

In its report, the committee said requiring women to cover their faces was against the French republican principles of secularism and equality.

It said: "The wearing of the full veil is a challenge to our republic."

The commission called on parliament to adopt a formal resolution stating that the face veil was "contrary to the values of the republic" and proclaiming that "all of France is saying 'no' to the full veil".

Presenting the report to the French Speaker Bernard Accoyer told the National Assembly the face veil had too many negative connotations.

The report is expected to be followed by the drafting of a bill and a parliamentary debate.

The BBC reports France has an estimated five million Muslims. The Ministry of the Interior says full veils are worn by 1900 women.

The report follows months of public debate, including President Nicolas Sarkozy's intervention, saying all-encompassing veils were "not welcome in France".