France’s Senate to debate burqa ban

France’s Senate will debate a bill on ban on wearing of the Muslim veil (burqa) by women in public places. The bill was approved by Lower House in this year’s July. And now it is to be introduced in the Upper House. If the bill passes, then a woman who goes out in the street wearing a burqa will be subject to fine.

Women will pay a 150-euro burqa ban, while men who force them to wear it will pay 30,000 euros. The legislation will also bring in force an imprisonment for men.

The bill has to be vetted by the Constitutional Council of France, its highest constitutional authority. So, France can become the second European country after Belgium to criminalise wearing the burqa.