France to ban burqa in public places

France on Wednesday said it would soon introduce a law to ban the practice of wearing burqa in public places and made it clear that people staying in the country should adhere by the laws of the land. French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont said wearing a burqa or nikaab in public places in France was in contradiction of the principles of freedom and equality.

"If someone does not feel at ease with French laws, why should they stay in France," Bonnafont asked. France is home to five million Muslims, the largest concentration in Europe, and Islam is the country's second most practised religion. According to estimates, nearly 2,000 women wear the burqa or the nikaab in public.

Most of these women are believed to be migrants from former French colonies in Africa. "They have chosen to come to France, which means that they accept to abide by French laws and not challenge them," Bonnafont said.

The French government is understood to have held consultations with the director of the Cairo University and the rector of the Jeddah Masjid, both considered as experts on the Holy Quran. Consultations were also held with the association of Imams in France.

The experts are believed to have made it clear to the French authorities that there was no religious prescription on wearing the burqa or the nikaab and the social practice was derived through local customs.

Bonnafont contended that those insisting on making burqa compulsory for Muslim women had a 'political agenda', as the religion did not prescribe it. French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has sought the advice of the Council of State, the country's highest administrative court, on the feasibility of a law to ban wearing the full veil in public places.