Muslim women wearing the paranja in public places of France will be fined 150 euros, with the ban coming into force today, RIA Novosti reports.
The law was initiated by the party of President Nikolas Sarkozy, the Union for a Popular Movement. The law-makers said that the veil humiliates women. The law also forbids wearing nicabs and burkhas.
Both chambers of the French government voted for the law in July and September 2010. The Constitutional Council approved the law in October.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon passed a circular letter clarifying the new rules. A special website was opened for the issue: www.visage-decouvert.gouv.fr.
French media say that some 2,000 women in France wear paranjas. They can still wear it at home, in hotels and in closed associations.
Besides a fine of 150 euros, violators of the new law may be forced to attend courses of right-minded citizens. The courses were introduced as a punishment in 2004.
If the wearing of a paranja was imposed by a third party, that party may be sentenced to jail or fined 30,000 euros. Forcing under-age females to wear the paranja may result in 2 years imprisonment or a fine of 60,000 euros.
The new law did not receive much criticism. The Socialist Party of France approved the law as well. The French Muslim Cultural Council did not criticize the law.
Lawyers say that there may be lawsuits brought to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Leader of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden said in October said that terrorists have the right to “expel occupants or cut their throats” if the French can “forbid free Muslim women to wear veils”. Experts say that France is the main enemy of Al-Qaeda, which has kidnapped and executed French citizens.
