Critics call new French ban of "dangerous" sails - USA Today

PARIS - Two women wearing Islamic face veils were carried offshore by police Monday the first day of a prohibition against the face is covered that the France said demeans women and are extremists. By Michel Euler, AP

Police later carry a veiled demonstrator unidentified in Paris Monday.

By Michel Euler, AP

Police later carry a veiled demonstrator unidentified in Paris Monday.

The law prohibits the niqab, which has just a slit for the eyes and the burqa, which has a screen mesh over the eyes and the people of fines up to $125 for violations.He unfairly target Muslims simply for a decision on how to dress, opponents say. "This law of exception in France, a nation built on laws, is harmful," said Nura Jaballah, Coordinator of the chapter France of the Forum European Muslims said Women.Jaballah targets of law a minority who should have the right to individual liberty and freedom of choice.Samira Akoumar, 20 student at the Sorbonne, was wearing a hijab, a veil on her head and carrying a Koran that she uses to pray between classes.She said that while most see the burqa as a symbol of oppression of women, women who wear to do voluntarily. "If you look at women in Paris wearing the burqa, many of them are converted and wear as a symbol of their faith,"she said."The law, approved in September, does not specifically mention this targeted Muslim costume and includes exceptions for motorcycle helmets, welders, performers festivals. People who force women to wear a risk of sailing up to one year in prison and a fine of $41,000. French President Nicolas Sarkozy argued the law as a means for Muslim immigrants better integrated into French society. Suburbs around Paris were taken by riots in recent years as Muslims require more opportunities of employment and respect for the laws and Islamic traditions.The France has 6 million Muslims, the largest population in Europe. In 2004, a law banning the wearing of headscarves and crosses on the public schools and Government buildings came into force.About a dozen people, including three women wearing the niqab sails, staged a protest in front of Notre Dame, saying that the ban is an affront to their freedom of expression and religion. Two veiled women were taken by police for having participated in a demonstration unauthorized, said police in Paris. They were later released after questioning. Homsy Faysal, 21, a student of public affairs at the Paris Institute of political studies, said that he supports the legislation. He said that the coatings are not an obligation under Muslim law, but a belief that the Saudi Wahhabists, which is the sect that Osama bin Laden adheres to the.He said that people who wear the full veil are the most radical kind of Muslims, "so" it's good to remember that we live in a Republic .mohammad T, 41, a garbage man, disagreement. "" I am concerned that it is not so much a security law as it is a matter of racism ", he said.For more information on reprints & permissions, see our FAQ. To report corrections and clarifications, contact standards editor Brent Jones. Review of the publication in the journal, please send your comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include the name, telephone number, city and State for the purposes of verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.We have updated the guidelines of Conversation. Changes include a brief review of moderation and an explanation on how to use the button "report abuse". To learn more.

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