Odoul was quoted as saying in the report, “Madame has ample time to wear her veil at home, on the street, but not here, not today,” citing France’s values of secularism and laïcité. Among the different types of Islamic veils, the burqa is the most conservative, covering the entire face and body. BackgroundBefore the Act was enforced, in 2004, France had banned wearing headscarves and “conspicuous” religious symbols in French state schools. Burqa legislation in FranceThe bill is meant to prohibit the concealment of the face in public spaces. The definition of public spaces includes public roads, places open to the public, or on government service.

Source: Indian Express October 21, 2019 11:15 UTC