Updated March 24, 2010

Sarkozy Vows to Ban Muslim Veil in France

Times of London

French president breaks his silence on what to do about full face-covering garments, says "the response is to ban it."

France is set to ban the full Muslim veil to protect the dignity of women, President Sarkozy announced Wednesday.

His decision followed months of wavering by politicians on the Left and Right and ended a long silence by Sarkozy on what do do about the niqab, burqa and other full face-covering garments.

"The full veil is contrary to the dignity of women," Sarkozy said. "The response is to ban it. The government will table a draft law prohibiting it."

He gave no details, but his announcement means that he has come down on the side of members of parliament in his own camp and the opposition who advocate a full ban on the full veil on French territory.

An all-party parliamentary committee recommended lesser measures last month which would require women to expose their faces on public transportation and on state-owned premises such as post offices, universities and hospitals.

Until yesterday, Sarkozy had merely said that the full veil symbolized the oppression of women and that it "has no place in France."

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/03/24 ... -+World%29