French burka ban a step closer

The French parliament has voted in favour of a non-binding resolution to ban the full Islamic veil, a first stage before a July vote on a bill to pass the law banning the all-covering Islamic dress - the niqab and the burka - in public places. The resolution does not constitute a law and is a symbolic act.

Reuters

A majority of 434 out of the 577 members of parliament approved the text, which says that radical practices that are detrimental to dignity and equality between men and women are contrary to the values of the French republic.

It says the burka is one of these practices. Minister of Justice Michèle Alliot-Marie promised that she would reflect the intentions of the resolution in her bill.

The text of the bill will be presented to the government next week. It will forbid people to wear anything designed to hide their faces and suggest a fine of 150 euros for those who contravene the rule.

Green MP Noël Mamère said yesterday's vote was a disgrace. He accused MPs of creating a diversion and kow-towing to the extreme right, pointing out that the number of women who wear the burka in France is "marginal".

If July's bill is passed, the law will probably be adopted in September. Belgium became the first European country to ban the burka, when it passed it into law last month.

Women in Belgium caught wearing a full veil can be fined 15-25 euros or sent to prison for a week.