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France's highest court has approved a law banning full-facial veils in public - with the exception of mosques.
Its critics say that the law stigmatizes Muslim women and it is a breach of religious freedom.
The decision in favor of the law by the constitutional council came as a surprise to many. The court had warned that the ban – which includes the niqab and the burqa, but not the hijab – might be unconstitutional.
What the law means
The ban prohibits anyone from covering their face in public, from government buildings to streets, markets and private business and entertainment venues.
The opposition Socialist party had supported a ban in government buildings only, but had chosen not to challenge the legislation proposed by the ruling UMP party.
In six months time, women wearing a facial veil will face arrest and a fine of $195 or "citizenship lessons".
A man who forces a woman to wear a burqa or niqab will be fined $42,000 and serve up to a year in prison.
“Secular values” or racism?
While the law makes no mention of Islam, many see it as a part of a wider attack on the religious identity.
The government of Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, has framed the ban as “protecting women's rights”.
Its opponents say that far from “protecting women”, the law breaches French and European human rights standards.
As in the case of its deportations of Roma, France is testing the limits of European Commission standards. France is the first European nation to ban the veil, but many have similar legislation pending.
The court's decision came on the same day as news of an alleged official file listing "Non-Settled Ethnic Minorities" broke, fuelling further criticisms that French authorities have discriminated against the Roma.
European Court of Human Rights could strike down the law.
Yet many legal experts have expressed skepticism over the legislation's legality.
Following its approval by the French Senate, or upper house of parliament, members of Sarkozy's own party had themselves immediately sent the law to the constitutional court in September, in a bid to pre-empt any potential legal challenges.
Henniche told Al Jazeera that several organizations are considering to challenge the law before the European Court of Human Rights.
The European court has dismissed previous challenges to bans on the veil in public schools.
PHOTO CAPTION
France's Prime Minister Francois Fillon, pictured on October 6.
Agencies
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