French Government Sanctioned Law to ban Burqa

   
The French government on 19 May2010 sanctioned the draft law to ban the use of burqa from public places.The law says that no one in France will be allowed to wear the type of clothing, which hides the face. Those who will not abide by the law will have to pay 150 Euros as penalty. In addition to this if anyone is found forcing someone to wear veil will be jailed for a year and fined 15,000 Euros. The law defines shops, cinemas, restaurants and markets-open to the public as public places.  

The government’s reason behind its approval of the law is protection of French values. According to the French government wearing burqa is against the dignity of a woman. It denies women freedom and equality with men and thus against French values. But Muslim organizations are opposing the ban because it is against the Islamic values.

• France has five million Muslims living in the country at present.

• Besides France, Belgium and Denmark are also considering ban on wearing burqa.
• Burqa is a type of clothing worn by Muslim women to cover their whole body including the face.