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Should you embrace the culture of the country you live in?

| Monday, 4 April 2011 | 11:49 - 13:29 GMT

From today women in France are banned from covering their face in public. It has been brought in to stop Muslim women wearing a face-concealing veil such as the niqab or burqa. They can be stopped by police and given a fine.

Writing in an official government newspaper explaining the law the French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said, "The French Republic lives in a bare-headed fashion,"

The fine is more symbolic than anything else, a 150 euro fine, that's 拢133, $217. However people forcing women to wear the veil face a much larger fine and a prison sentence of up to two years.

France is the first country in Europe to publicly ban a form of dress some Muslims regard as a religious duty. But it extends beyond Muslims, if you were to walk down the street wearing a balaclava or motorcycle helmet you would still be breaking the law. But according to this article it only affect a maximum of two thousand people who wear the full veil.

Your comments

  1. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Mirza from Afghanistan emailed: I think this shouldn't be banned because it is against Democracy as every one has their right to live how ever they want, if france can't do this then why do they come in Afghanistan saying there should be Peace and Democracy.

  2. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Sabrina emailed from France: this ban will certainly stigmatize Islam.

  3. Comment sent via Feed

    Mohammad Usri tweeted from Riyadh Shame on you France, Is this the freedom ?!!!

  4. Comment sent via Feed

    Mariama tweeted It is not because I wear one am saying this. But a woman with a Hijab is more beautiful than a woman without it.

  5. Comment sent via Feed

    Yasmin Aziz tweeted: they should have courses on how to wear it properly at the university. hijab shouldn't be worn with a tight mini dress.

  6. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Noel in England emailed: Well done France, I thoroughly agree with the french, there is no need what so ever to cover the face in public.

  7. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Sandlons in Hong Kong emailed: Come on.......when will French learn how to respect other peoples' culture?

  8. Comment sent via Feed

    Sonia tweeted: The French ban is just as oppressive as the Islamic law forcing them to do it in the first place

  9. Comment sent via host

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