In France, women are banned from hiding their faces
From Monday, a law came into effect in France banning women from appearing in burqas in public places – stores, parks, museums. The law does not apply to all types of traditional Islamic women's clothing: for example, wearing a hijab (a scarf that covers the hair but not the face) on the streets is not prohibited for French women. The wearing of the burqa or burka – a garment consisting of a robe with long false sleeves and a face-covering mesh – is completely banned. Also banned will be the niqab – a female head covering (usually black) that covers the face, with a narrow slit for the eyes.
According to the law adopted in the fall, any woman – French or foreign – appearing in traditional Muslim clothing that covers the face will be fined 150 euros ($217).
Also, law enforcement agencies may order the offender to attend a mandatory course of lectures on norms of behavior in civil society. Women will be allowed to wear face-covering veils only at home or in places of worship. A woman may sit in a private car wearing a burqa. But if she is driving and a traffic inspector decides that the veil obstructs her view, she may also be fined.
For individuals who force a woman to wear a burqa, a harsher penalty is provided – up to one year in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros.
Only law enforcement agencies will monitor compliance with the law. The document stipulates that no one, not even an official, can force a woman to remove her burqa on the street. If a citizen sees an offender, he must immediately report it to the police.
According to official data, about 2,000 women in France wear face-covering national attire. Many of them have already publicly stated that they do not intend to follow the adopted law. «11 апреля моя жизнь продолжится в качестве француженки, носящей паранджу. Я буду выходить в общественные места, а также в любые другие, куда захочу. Я не сниму паранджу, какими бы ни были последствия», – сказала Euronews одна из жительниц Парижа.
On Saturday, about a hundred citizens who disagreed with the adoption of the law gathered at the Place de la Nation in Paris. Police arrested 61 people, including 19 women, as well as citizens of Great Britain and Belgium. Some of those detained did not even manage to reach the square. European lawyers also expect that from Monday, lawsuits will begin to be filed with the European Court of Human Rights from Muslim women living in France claiming violation of their rights.
On Monday, posters appeared in French government institutions that, according to the authorities, should reduce protest sentiment in the country. One of the slogans written on them is 'The Republic lives with an open face.'
Recall that the Senate of the French Parliament voted to adopt the law banning the wearing of burqas in public places on September 15. The Constitutional Council later also approved the bill.
Other European countries are also considering the possibility of banning the wearing of hijabs or burqas on the streets. A corresponding bill was introduced in the Italian parliament last fall. According to the submitted document, appearing in a public place in a female Muslim head covering that hides the face carries up to one year in prison or a fine of 150 to 300 euros. A bill banning the wearing of face-covering veils has also been under development in Belgium for several years.
Игнат БЕЛОВСКИЙ.
