French Senate Approves Ban on Face Veils

As if the French government hadn’t done enough to damage its reputation with respect to its protection of religious and ethnic minorities in recent weeks, the French senate yesterday approved a ban on wearing Islamic face veils (niqabs or burqas) anywhere in public. Once ratified, the law will come into effect after a period of six months during which time the French Constitutional Council will study the new law to make sure that it does not violate any aspects of the state’s constitution. It is possible that a challenge to the ban may be made through the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Read the Guardian’s account of the French Senate’s almost-unanimous approval of the ban.