French Parliament Approves Ban on Burqa-style Islamic Face Veils

France's lower house of Parliament overwhelmingly approved a ban on burqa and niqab style Islamic face veils, 335 to 1. The French government believes that this is a measure in the ongoing challenge to define and protect French values, claiming that this kind of garb is in defiance of women's equality rights and the tradition of secularism.

The bill which passed on Tuesday states that wearing a burqa or niqab in public could result in a 150-euro (190 USD) fine, citizenship classes, or both. Furthermore, the French government holds that anyone who forces a woman to wear a such garments could face one year in prison and a 15,000-euro (19,000 USD) fine. CNN reports the French legislation deeming such an act as, "a new form of enslavement that the republic cannot accept on its soil."

Abroad, groups such as Amnesty International have condemned the bill claiming it is a violation of a woman's rights to expression and religion. Furthermore, some legal experts claim that the ban on burqas, though it could uphold women's equality rights, could also be walking the line of being unconstitutional. However, on French soil, the people are overwhelmingly in favor with 80% approving of the bill. Similar statistics can be found in other European countries such as Spain and Germany.

The bill is set to go to the Senate in September where it is also expected to pass. If the bill is made into law it would take effect six months after passage, in hopes that authorities could convince women to voluntarily stop wearing the garments. Furthermore, France would become the first European nation to enforce a ban on burqas and niqabs.

France has a Muslim population of about 5 million, the largest of any European nation. Whereas head scarves are worn regularly, some estimates suggest that a very small fraction of Muslim women in France where a burqa or niqab style face veil.

The main body representing French Muslims does not completely disagree with the ban, as they believe such garbs to be unsuitable within the French republic. However there are still fears that this kind of legislation could fuel some anti-Muslim sentiments. Yahoo News reports Malika Hamidi, the general director of the European Muslim Network, as stating that the ban's supporters are "playing up a feeling of fear of Islam." Hamidi claims that this is a crucial issue, especially because Europe is currently concerned with a changing identity, struggling to manage a growing diversity, and facing an economic crisis.

The issue of French identity is a multi-layered one. Just last year national debates were sparked as to what it means to be French. Furthermore, the French have previously had difficulties with assimilating immigrants with the most notable instance being the riots in 2005. In regard to religion, the French have had bans on religious articles such as crucifixes for quite some time. However with this new legislation many things will be brought into question concerning not only French identity and values, but those of other nations as well. When do women's rights come into play in a religious issue? How far is too far in terms of secularism? How can a nation's constitution be violated and upheld at once? These are questions that affect much of the legislation in the modern world and attaining the answers is never easy.