Police arrest veiled women at ‘burqa ban’ protest

From 11 April 2011 women wearing the full Islamic veil in France could be fined up to €150 and be ordered to attend ‘re-education’ classes. The law that bans the traditional burqa and niqab was adopted in 2010, making France the first Western country to ban these clothes worn by some Muslim women.

The French Muslim community has more than 5 million, but the police estimate that no more than 2000 women actually wear this traditional clothing.

The controversial law prompted a protest at which two women wearing the garment in front of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral were arrested on the 11 April 2011.

• Primary Source

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