D-day for burqa ban

Photo / Greg Bowker

French politicians were to take a final vote overnight on a law banning face-covering veils in public spaces, although the constitutional court may yet strike down the measure before it comes into force.

The bill makes no reference to Islam, but has been promoted by President Nicolas Sarkozy's Government as a measure to protect Muslim women from being forced to wear full-face veils such as the burqa.