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| France report backs face veil ban | France report backs face veil ban |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A French parliamentary committee has recommended a partial ban on women wearing Islamic face veils. | A French parliamentary committee has recommended a partial ban on women wearing Islamic face veils. |
| The committee's near 200-page report has proposed a ban in hospitals, schools, government offices and on public transport. | The committee's near 200-page report has proposed a ban in hospitals, schools, government offices and on public transport. |
| It also recommends that anyone showing visible signs of "radical religious practice" should be refused residence cards and citizenship. | It also recommends that anyone showing visible signs of "radical religious practice" should be refused residence cards and citizenship. |
| The interior ministry says just 1,900 women in France wear the full veils. | The interior ministry says just 1,900 women in France wear the full veils. |
| In its report, the committee said requiring women to cover their faces was against the French republican principles of secularism and equality. | In its report, the committee said requiring women to cover their faces was against the French republican principles of secularism and equality. |
| "The wearing of the full veil is a challenge to our republic. This is unacceptable. We must condemn this excess," the report said. | "The wearing of the full veil is a challenge to our republic. This is unacceptable. We must condemn this excess," the report said. |
| The commission called on parliament to adopt a formal resolution stating that the face veil was "contrary to the values of the republic" and proclaiming that "all of France is saying 'no' to the full veil". | The commission called on parliament to adopt a formal resolution stating that the face veil was "contrary to the values of the republic" and proclaiming that "all of France is saying 'no' to the full veil". |
| Presenting the report to the French National Assembly, speaker Bernard Accoyer said the face veil had too many negative connotations. | Presenting the report to the French National Assembly, speaker Bernard Accoyer said the face veil had too many negative connotations. |
| A law may follow, but MPs are divided over what to do Gavin Hewitt BBC Europe editor Read more in Gavin Hewitt's blog The Islamic veil across Europe | A law may follow, but MPs are divided over what to do Gavin Hewitt BBC Europe editor Read more in Gavin Hewitt's blog The Islamic veil across Europe |
| "It is the symbol of the repression of women, and... of extremist fundamentalism. | "It is the symbol of the repression of women, and... of extremist fundamentalism. |
| "This divisive approach is a denial of the equality between men and women and a rejection of co-existence side-by-side, without which our republic is nothing." | "This divisive approach is a denial of the equality between men and women and a rejection of co-existence side-by-side, without which our republic is nothing." |
| The report is expected to be followed by the drafting of a bill and a parliamentary debate on the issue. | The report is expected to be followed by the drafting of a bill and a parliamentary debate on the issue. |
| The BBC's Hugh Schofield, in Paris, says the reasoning behind the report is to make it as impractical as possible for women in face veils to go about their daily business. | The BBC's Hugh Schofield, in Paris, says the reasoning behind the report is to make it as impractical as possible for women in face veils to go about their daily business. |
| There is also a fear that an outright ban would not only be difficult to implement but would be distasteful and could make France a target for terrorism, our correspondent says. | There is also a fear that an outright ban would not only be difficult to implement but would be distasteful and could make France a target for terrorism, our correspondent says. |
| France has an estimated five million Muslims - the largest such population in Western Europe. | |
| Months of debate | Months of debate |
| The report follows months of public debate, including President Nicolas Sarkozy's intervention, saying all-encompassing veils were "not welcome in France". | The report follows months of public debate, including President Nicolas Sarkozy's intervention, saying all-encompassing veils were "not welcome in France". |
| However, he did not explicitly call for a ban, saying "no-one should feel stigmatised" by any eventual law. | |
| Opinion polls suggest a majority of French people support a full ban. | Opinion polls suggest a majority of French people support a full ban. |
| Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphics | Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphics |
| However, the parliamentary deputies have recommended that - for now - restrictions should be limited. | However, the parliamentary deputies have recommended that - for now - restrictions should be limited. |
| The committee suggests a ban inside public buildings, with those who defy the ban denied whatever services are on offer there - for example state benefits. | The committee suggests a ban inside public buildings, with those who defy the ban denied whatever services are on offer there - for example state benefits. |
| There are several types of headscarves and veils for Muslim women - those that cover the face being the niqab and the burka. In France, the niqab is the version most commonly worn. | There are several types of headscarves and veils for Muslim women - those that cover the face being the niqab and the burka. In France, the niqab is the version most commonly worn. |
| The niqab usually leaves the eyes clear. It is worn with an accompanying headscarf and may be worn with a separate eye veil. | The niqab usually leaves the eyes clear. It is worn with an accompanying headscarf and may be worn with a separate eye veil. |
| The burka covers the entire face and body with just a mesh screen to see through. | The burka covers the entire face and body with just a mesh screen to see through. |
| 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 full veils 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 full veils 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. |