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| Europe | ||
| French businessman offers to set up fund to help pay veil fines | ||
| 2010-07-13 | ||
| Reuters - A French businessman is offering to sell properties to help Muslim women pay any fines that they might receive for wearing the full veil in public if a law is voted through France's parliament. In a statement published in several newspapers, Rachid Nekkaz, who tried to stand in the presidential elections in 2007, said he would use proceeds from property sales for a €1m fund to help women pay any fines. Nekkaz is setting up an association, 'Hands off my Constitution', which he said viewed banning the veil in the street as unconstitutional. Critics see the bill as difficult to enforce and say only a tiny minority of Muslim women wear the full veil, and that the legislation is a step towards tighter restraints on individual freedom. Supporters of the ban argue that wearing garments which hide women's faces violates the ideals of secularism and equality. Lawmakers will vote on the bill on Tuesday, which would see women fined €150 if they wear the full veil, known as the burqa or niqab, in public places.
The country already bans Muslim headscarves and other religious symbols from schools and voters have indicated support for a ban of the full veil. The government is expecting broad support for the bill after opposition Socialists said they would not hinder its adoption.
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| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #1 niqab ta mere |
| Posted by: lex 2010-07-13 18:10 |