Hijab In France

Hijab In France

In April 2011, France became the first European nation to ban the public use of veils, both face-covering niqabs and full-body burqas. The law was passed unanimously asserting that face-covering Muslim veils are contrary to the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity on which France is founded. Sharp criticism had accompanied France's nearly year-long debate on banning burqa-style veils, with those opposed saying, among other things, that the entire process has stigmatized the nation's estimated 5 million Muslims – the largest Muslim population in western Europe. They also claim it is a political ploy because only an estimated 1,900 women wear veils that hide the face. A 2004 law also bans Muslim hijab headscarves and other prominent religious symbols from being worn in state schools, but does not apply in universities.