The French Constitutional Court has approved legislation banning the Islamic full veil in public. As discussed in a previous PILA Bulletin the ban has proved a highly controversial issue in France, which has an almost 10 per cent Muslim population. The ban has been approved almost entirely - with a change being introduced to permit wearing the veil in public places of worship, so as to ensure there is no violation of religious freedom.
The ban, due to take effect six months after ratification, will result in the imposition of a 150 euro fine and/or a citizenship course for those who are found to be wearing the full veil in public. The law allows an "education" period of six months to explain the consequences of continuing to wear the veil in public places.
The Bill was approved by the National Assembly in July and by the Senate in September. France is now the second European country after Belgium to make the wearing of the Muslim veil in public a criminal offence.
Human rights groups opposed to the legislation may yet challenge the ban at the European Court of Human Rights level.
Please click here to see the judgment and click here to see the press release (both in French).