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| France report backs face veil ban | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A French parliamentary committee has recommended a partial ban on women wearing Islamic face veils. | |
| The committee has proposed a ban in hospitals, schools and on public transport. | |
| France has been debating whether to ban face-covering Muslim veils with President Nicolas Sarkozy recently speaking out against them. | |
| The French interior ministry says just 1,900 women in France wear the full veils. | |
| The parliamentary report also recommends that anyone showing visible signs of what it called "radical religious practice" should be refused residence cards and citizenship. | |
| Release of the document is expected to be followed by the drafting of a bill and a parliamentary debate on the issue. | |
| Speaking earlier this month, Mr Sarkozy said the veil was "not welcome in France". | Speaking earlier this month, Mr Sarkozy said the veil 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/01/behind_the_niqab.html">Read more in Gavin Hewitt's blog | |
| 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. | |
| 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. |