UK human rights organisation Liberty has announced that it is intervening in the case concerning the criminalisation of face coverings in France. The case, SAS v France concerns a Muslim woman who brought an application to the European Court of Human Rights which challenges the French burqa ban which originally came into force last year. The case has major consequences for freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
The human rights organisation Liberty argues that the ban breaches Article 8 (right to private life), Article 9 freedom of religion, Article 10 (freedom of expression) and Article 14 (no discrimination) of the European Convention. The law as it stands prohibits wearing clothing that covers the face in public areas such as gardens, cinemas and restaurants and with an associated fine of €150.
Liberty’s Legal Officer Corinna Ferguson commented: “Wearing the full veil may be considered demeaning by some but for many women it’s a precious symbol of their faith. Such controversy is hardly resolved by imprisoning at home those who feel compelled to wear the burqa or niqab. This blanket, discriminatory and disproportionate ban only serves to fuel the flames of Islamaphobia spreading across Europe.”
Click here to see a press release by Liberty.
Click here to see a post by European Court of Human Rights News.