French ‘burqa’ ban passes last legal hurdle

France's Constitutional Council, the country's top legal authority, has approved a law banning full-face veils in public on the 7 October 2010. The ban will go into effect in 2011, but will not be enforceable in public places of worship.

The Constitutional Council, which had previously warned that banning the veil might be unconstitutional, said it approved the version of the Bill which had been passed by both houses of parliament earlier in 2010, after a final review.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: French lawmakers approve ban on full veil http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-lawmakers-approve-ban-on-full-veil/

BBC News, 7.11.10: French veil ban clears last legal hurdle http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11496459

France24, 7.3.11: Ban on wearing face veils to come into effect April http://www.france24.com/en/20110303-ban-wearing-full-islamic-veils-enforced-april-burqa-niqab-france-law

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