11/04/2011 11:26
France: Veil ban comes into force
A law has come into force in France which makes it an offence for a Muslim woman to conceal her face behind a veil when in public, BBC said.
Anyone caught breaking the law will be liable to a fine of 150 euros (£133, $217) and a citizenship course.
France is the first country in Europe to publicly ban a form of dress some Muslims regard as a religious duty. The French parliament approved the respective bill in September, 2010.
On most estimates, 2,000 or so women in France actually wear the niqab or burqa.