France begins enforcement of burqa ban

Women in France who wear the traditional Muslim full-body veil in public now face fines, Deutsche Welle reports. France has begun the implementation of its unprecedented ban on the burqa and niqab, full-body and face veils worn by some Muslim women. Starting Monday, those women who defy the law can be fined. France begins enforcement of burqa ban Parliament passed the ban last year with overwhelming support - only one member of the senate voted against it - making France the first country in the West to do so. Police received a manual last week on how to enforce the ban, which only applies if the veils are worn in public. Officers may fine noncompliant women 150 euros ($216) and are not to remove the veils by force. The law gives tougher penalties for anyone who forces a woman to wear the garments, with fines of up to 60,000 euros and up to two years in prison. While France's Muslim community of 5 million is the largest in Western Europe, fewer than 2,000 women are estimated to actually wear the burqa or niqab. The ban sparked controversy in France and across Europe, with opponents calling it an infringement on religious freedom. Supporters say the burqa and niqab are symbols of a fundamentalist brand of Islam, and that the ban protects women's rights. Lawmakers in Belgium approved their own version of the ban last year and are likely to be looking at France's implementation for tips. French police said they arrested 59 people on Saturday at a banned protest against the law. (Beta/AP)

France begins enforcement of burqa ban

Parliament passed the ban last year with overwhelming support - only one member of the senate voted against it - making France the first country in the West to do so.

Police received a manual last week on how to enforce the ban, which only applies if the veils are worn in public. Officers may fine noncompliant women 150 euros ($216) and are not to remove the veils by force.

The law gives tougher penalties for anyone who forces a woman to wear the garments, with fines of up to 60,000 euros and up to two years in prison.

While France's Muslim community of 5 million is the largest in Western Europe, fewer than 2,000 women are estimated to actually wear the burqa or niqab.

The ban sparked controversy in France and across Europe, with opponents calling it an infringement on religious freedom. Supporters say the burqa and niqab are symbols of a fundamentalist brand of Islam, and that the ban protects women's rights.

Lawmakers in Belgium approved their own version of the ban last year and are likely to be looking at France's implementation for tips.

French police said they arrested 59 people on Saturday at a banned protest against the law.