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| France report 'to back burka ban' | France report 'to back burka ban' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A French parliamentary committee is expected to recommend a partial ban on women wearing the full Islamic veil. | A French parliamentary committee is expected to recommend a partial ban on women wearing the full Islamic veil. |
| The committee is thought to see the burka as an affront to French values and will propose a ban in hospitals, schools and transport, AFP reports. | The committee is thought to see the burka as an affront to French values and will propose a ban in hospitals, schools and transport, AFP reports. |
| France has been debating whether to ban the full body veil - known as the burka - with President Nicolas Sarkozy recently speaking out against them. | France has been debating whether to ban the full body veil - known as the burka - with President Nicolas Sarkozy recently speaking out against them. |
| The interior ministry says just 1,900 women in France wear the burka. | The interior ministry says just 1,900 women in France wear the burka. |
| Speaking earlier this month, Mr Sarkozy said the burka was "not welcome in France". | Speaking earlier this month, Mr Sarkozy said the burka was "not welcome in France". |
| However, he did not explicitly call for a ban, saying "no one should feel stigmatised" by any eventual law. | However, he did not explicitly call for a ban, saying "no one should feel stigmatised" by any eventual law. |
| I'm really very sad about this, but I'm not so surprised because it is part of the French mentality Chrystelle KhedroucheFrench-born Muslim, 36 Read more in Gavin Hewitt's blog | |
| Benefits under threat | Benefits under threat |
| Opinion polls suggest a majority of French people support a full ban. | Opinion polls suggest a majority of French people support a full ban. |
| However, the parliamentary deputies are expected to recommend that - for now - restrictions should be limited, the BBC's Hugh Schofield reports from Paris. | However, the parliamentary deputies are expected to recommend that - for now - restrictions should be limited, the BBC's Hugh Schofield reports from Paris. |
| The committee will suggest a ban inside public buildings, with those who defy the ban denied whatever services are on offer there - for example state benefits, our correspondent says. | The committee will suggest a ban inside public buildings, with those who defy the ban denied whatever services are on offer there - for example state benefits, our correspondent says. |
| The issue has divided France's political parties. | The issue has divided France's political parties. |
| The Socialist opposition has come out officially against a ban, saying it would be difficult to enforce. It says it is opposed to the burka in principle, but some members have expressed fears about any ruling that could stigmatise Muslim women. | The Socialist opposition has come out officially against a ban, saying it would be difficult to enforce. It says it is opposed to the burka in principle, but some members have expressed fears about any ruling that could stigmatise Muslim women. |
| Meanwhile, the head of Mr Sarkozy's right-wing UMP party has already presented a bill in parliament supporting a full ban on grounds of security. | Meanwhile, the head of Mr Sarkozy's right-wing UMP party has already presented a bill in parliament supporting a full ban on grounds of security. |
| The committee's report is expected to be followed by the drafting of a bill and a parliamentary debate on the issue. | The committee's report is expected to be followed by the drafting of a bill and a parliamentary debate on the issue. |