European Court Upholds French Full Veil Ban
BRUSSELS (Worthy News)– In 2010, France instituted a ban on Muslim woman wearing a full-face veil, niqab, and the law was upheld by the European Court of Human Rights yesterday.
A case was brought before the court by a 24-year-old French woman, who argued the ban violated her freedom of religion and expression.
The court ruled saying that France needed to ensure "respect for the minimum set of values of an open democratic society", listing three values in that connection: "respect for gender equality, respect for human dignity and respect for the minimum requirements of life in society (or of “living together”)."
The court accepted the barrier raised against others by a veil concealing the face in public could undermine the notion of "living together," and accepted France's submission that the "face played a significant role in social interaction."
The French government argued that the niqab was an affront to France's secular values and also presented a potential security risk as it conceals a person's identity.