AlJazeeraEnglish | July 06, 2010 - France's parliament is set to vote on a proposed legislation banning the wearing of face veils in public places.
If passed, prospective punishments for those violating the law include imprisonment and a hefty fine.
Violators of the ban may also be forced to take educational classes on how to be a proper French citizen in a country home to five million Muslims.
Rights groups have criticised the bill for being demeaning and stifling freedom of expression.
Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports.
Inside Story - France: Banning the veil:
AlJazeeraEnglish | July 07, 2010 - France moves closer to banning the full face veil. Supporters claim the covering of the face is a security threat, an insult to women's dignity, and a threat to a secular constitution. Opponents say the move is a restriction on the freedom of expression and a breach of human rights. Would the law isolate Muslims rather than integrate them into the French society?
