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MPS VOTE 335-1 IN FAVOUR OF A BAN ON THE FULL VEIL - A VOTE THAT WAS BOYCOTTED BY THE SOCIALISTS, COMMUNISTS AND GREENS FRANCE has moved one step closer to banning women from wearing the
burqa in public, after the draft law was passed by a large majority of MPs. The National Assembly adopted the text at first reading by 335 votes to one. It will now be examined by the Senate
after the summer break in September and if it passes senators without modification will become law. The support came mostly from the governing UMP party and the Nouveau Centre - the
Socialists, Greens and Communist Party boycotted the vote. The Socialist Party said a total ban would be legally risky to enforce and hoped the _Conseil Constitutionnel_ would throw out the
law. The party believes that any ban should be limited to public services and shops, not open spaces. The legislation, drawn by up by justice minister Michèle Alliot-Marie, does not
specifically target the burqa but refers to any attempt to "hide the face". Doing so in a public place would come with a €150 fine and/or a compulsory enrolment on a citizenship
course. Anyone who forces a woman to wear the burqa faces a fine of up to €30,000 and a year in prison. If passed, the law will come into effect in spring 2011, allowing six months for an
"educational" campaign to raise awareness. The government estimates that about 2,000 women in France wear the burqa. Photo: Ajancso - Fotolia.com