French Members of Parliament vote to ban Islamic full veil in public

France's lower house of parliament has approved a bill to ban wearing the Islamic full veil (pictured) in public.

The overwhelming vote was 335 to 1.

The bill would make it illegal to wear garments such as the niqab or burka, which incorporate a full-face veil, anywhere in public.

It envisages fines of 150 euros ($193) for women who break the law and 30,000 euros and a one-year jail term for men who force their wives to wear the burka.

Not mentioned in the arguments for and against the bill is the potential for criminals to cover their faces with the full-face niqab or burka allowing them to roam freely undetected.

More here.