page_title: French ban on face covering
hierarchical_section_title: French ban on face covering
caption_attribution_description: English: 1984 World Fair in New Orleans. Fair mascot "Seymore D. Fair" posing off fair grounds, picture taken with personal camera.
context_page_description: The French ban on face covering is legislation passed by the Senate of France on 14 September 2010 which imposes a full nation ban on face covering in public places in France except under specified circumstances. Examples for such face covering headwear are balaclavas, niqābs, burqas, helmets and masks. As a result of the ban, some unintentional side effects has occurred for example costumed characters and zentai have been banned as both do cover one's face. The bill had previously been passed by the National Assembly of France on 13 July 2010.
  Public debate exacerbated concerns over immigration, nationalism, secularism, security, and sexuality. Arguments supporting this proposal include that face coverings prevent the clear identification of a person, that the alleged forcing of women to cover their faces is sexist, and that Muslims who continue this practice should be forced to assimilate into traditional French social norms.
context_section_description: The French ban on face covering (French: Loi interdisant la dissimulation du visage dans l'espace public, "Law prohibiting concealment of the face in public space") is legislation passed by the Senate of France on 14 September 2010 which imposes a full nation ban on face covering in public places in France except under specified circumstances. Examples for such face covering headwear are balaclavas, niqābs, burqas, helmets and masks. As a result of the ban, some unintentional side effects has occurred for example costumed characters and zentai have been banned as both do cover one's face. The bill had previously been passed by the National Assembly of France on 13 July 2010.
  Public debate exacerbated concerns over immigration, nationalism, secularism, security, and sexuality. Arguments supporting this proposal include that face coverings prevent the clear identification of a person (which may be a security risk, or a social hindrance within a society which relies on facial recognition and expression in communication), that the alleged forcing of women to cover their faces is sexist, and that Muslims who continue this practice should be forced to assimilate into traditional French social norms. Arguments against include that the ban encroaches on individual freedoms, and that it discriminates against interpretations of Islam that require or encourage women to wear face coverings, that it takes away the choice of women to decide whether to dress according to a particular standard of modesty, and prevents anonymity in situations where it might be socially or personally desirable. Opponents accused President Nicolas Sarkozy of fostering Islamophobia and using the law for political gain. For them to not allow the face veil is stopping Muslim women from performing their religion freely.
  As of 11 April 2011, it is illegal to wear a face covering veil or other masks in public spaces. Veils, scarves and other headwear that do not cover the face are unaffected by this law. The law imposes a fine of up to €150, and/or participation in citizenship education, for those who violate the law. The bill also penalises, with a fine of €30,000 and one year in prison, anyone who forces (by violence, threats, or abuse of power) another to wear face coverings; these penalties may be doubled if the victim is under the age of 18.
  As a result of the law, the only exceptions to a woman wearing a face covering veil in public will be if she is travelling in a private car or worshiping in a religious place.
caption: A costumed character is an example of a face covering banned unintentionally in public in France
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