Ban on Niqab in France Violates Human Rights: UN Commission

UN Commission on Tuesday termed Ban on Niqab in France violates Human Rights restricting Muslim women to confinement of their homes.

UN Committee of independent human rights experts ruled in the favor of complaints received by two French Muslim women who were fined for their niqab (full-body veil), and also stated that their freedom to practice their religion had been breached.

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In 2012 the women for wearing niqab were convicted, prosecuted based on 2010 French law imposing…

“No one may, in a public space, wear any article of clothing intended to conceal the face.”

This law prevented Muslim women from wearing their niqab (Islamic veil) in public, the niqab which covers the whole body including the face just allowing a narrow slit for the eyes.

The Committee of 18 independent experts from around the world, stated in two rulings, that the right to practice one’s religion includes the wearing of distinctive clothing and head coverings.

The decision read France has not presented any explanation on how the veil in itself threatens public security and that the Government failed to give adequate reasons on why hiding face was prohibited for religious reasons while it is authorized in other contexts such as sports, or artistic settings.

it was concluded by the experts the ban could have the implication of restricting the women to their homes rather than protecting them and obstructing their access to public services.

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The committee, however, acknowledged the need of “in some circumstances” may demand the individuals to uncover their faces where public security was at stake.

The committee members also highlighted that the scope of French law was not limited to specific situations rather it prevents people from hiding faces at all times.

For wearing the niqab in France the fine can be imposed up to 150 euros ($172), under a law that came into effect in 2011 which prevents the wearing of headgear covering the face.

According to the estimation of the French Government out of the population of 3.5 million 2000 women wore the niqab when the law introduced.

the 18-member expert UN panel received the complaint of two women in the year 2016. The women had been prosecuted for wearing the niqab in 2012 separately.

Complaints by two women were received by the 18-person expert UN panel in 2016 after they had separately been prosecuted for wearing niqabs in 2012.

France has now only 180 days to report on the action taken to implement the panel’s decision.

In these two specific cases, recommendations include a compensation of the two petitioners and measures to prevent similar violations in the future, including a review of the 2010 law.