Advertisement

French court upholds Muslim veil ban

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
French court upholds Muslim veil ban
A French court convicted a woman of defying the country's ban on Muslim veils. Photo:Denis Charlet/AFP

France's law banning Muslim head and face veils stood strong on Wednesday against another challenge. A young woman arrested for wearing a veil had sought its dismissal.

Advertisement

A French court on Wednesday convicted a young woman for wearing a full-face Islamic veil in public and threw out her bid to have the country's controversial burqa ban declared unconstitutional.

Cassandra Belin, 20, was also convicted of insulting and threatening three police officers at the time of her arrest, which sparked two days of rioting in the town of Trappes, near Paris, in July, 2013. She was given a one-month suspended prison sentence for the clash with the police and a 150-euro ($200) fine for wearing the veil.

Her lawyers, who argued that the burqa ban impinges on religious freedom and unfairly target Muslims, had asked for an emergency ruling on the constitutionality of the ban before sentencing. But that request was rejected on the grounds that the Constitutional Council had previously upheld the 2011 law. 

Belin's lawyer, Philippe Bataille, said he would consider an appeal and pledged to continue fighting to overturn the ban. "I'm not throwing in the towel," he said.

Thibault de Montbrial, the lawyer for the three police officers, welcomed the court's ruling. "We cannot tolerate exceptions to the law of the land," he said.

The European Court of Human Rights is expected to rule later this year in a case brought by a French Muslim who argues the burqa ban violates her right to freedom of religion, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, and breaches a prohibition against discrimination.

France argues the ban is necessary for security reasons and to uphold the country's secular traditions.But critics say if security is a consideration, then motorcycle helmets should also be outlawed. 

In theory the ban covers all face coverings, but in practice the only arrests have been of women wearing Muslim veils.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also