Thaindian News

By Gina Gomez
July 14, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Yesterday, the lower house of French Parliament voted in favor of banning the burqa, the full veil of women which covers face and body. The vote in favor of the ban was an overwhelming one; 335 to 1. The votes will now be judged by French Senate before it becomes a law. The French Senate will vote on it in the middle of September and the French citizens are eagerly waiting for then decision.

This decision of lower house of French Parliament was immediately criticized by John Dalhuisan, Amnesty International’s expert on discrimination in Europe who said that a complete ban on the covering of the face would violate the rights to freedom of expression and religion of those women who wear the burqa or the niqab in public as an expression of their identity or beliefs. There was a poll for the French people also where 82% people approved of the ban whereas only 17% disapproved and even the French Council of Ministers approved the veil ban in May saying that veils that cover the face could not be tolerated in any public place.

After the bill was passed Justice Minister Michele Alliot- Marie said that the law is underpinned by humanitarian values which today, like yesterday forge “our unity” and individuality and which are the foundations of the greatness of France. If Senate passes the bill in September then it will become illegal in France to wear a burqa anywhere in public and will be punishable by law and can be fined equivalent amount of around $200. Even if a man is caught forcing her wife to wear a burqa would face $40,000 jail or a year of jail.