A French parliamentary commission has called for a ban on the Islamic face-covering veil, known in France by the Afghan term burqa, saying it challenges the country's secular values.

"The wearing of the full veil is a challenge to our republic. This is unacceptable," read the parliamentary report, which was released on Tuesday after six months of deliberation and testimony from 180 experts.

The commission has recommended adopting a ban on wearing the full veil in "public places" including hospitals, schools and on mass transit. Under the proposal, women appearing in government offices wearing a burqa could be denied visa and immigration services.

"The measure would force individuals not only to show their faces at the entrance to a public service [area] but also to maintain their faces uncovered for as long as they remain [there]," the report continued.

The commission rapporteur, Eric Raoult, told journalists: "We want to fight Islamic fundamentalism. And the burqa is a manifestation of that fundamentalism."

Symbol of 'subservience'

President Nicolas Sarkozy has previously said that the burqa was "not welcome" in France and described it as a symbol of women's "subservience," which could not be tolerated.

French support for a law banning the full veil is strong: a poll last week showed that 57 percent are in favor.

The burqa has been the subject of fierce public debate in France, which is home to roughly six million Muslims. It is estimated that around 1,900 women to wear the burqa, according to the French interior ministry.

Possible fines

The leader of Sarkozy's right-wing party in parliament, Jean-Francois Cope, has already presented draft legislation that would make it illegal for anyone to cover their faces in public for reasons of security.

According to his draft bill, women who wear the veil could be issued a fine of 750 euros ($1,000). Men who force their wives and daughters to wear the garments could face even higher penalties.

The bill is not scheduled for debate until after regional elections in March.

If the ban is enacted, France, home to the largest Muslim population in Europe, will be the first European country to adopt uniform national legislation restricting the full veil.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK would not follow suit, adding that Britain "does not share France's views on secularization."

But Denmark, the Netherlands and Austria are also studying measures to ban the full veil.

France has long had contentious relations with the public wearing of religious attire. In 2004, France banned headscarves or any other "conspicuous" religious symbols in state schools.

smh/AFP/dpa
Editor: Kyle James