Veiled women arrested in protest of Paris

Implemented France in motion Monday first ban of the world sailing Islamic face, which means that women can naked their breasts at Cannes, but not cover their faces on the fields-Elysée.

Two veiled women were transported off the coast of a Paris protest a few hours after the entry into force of the ban. Their demonstration unauthorized on cobblestones square with the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, was rich in symbolism of the modern spirit of the France of defiance and its medieval history.

While some see invasive Islamophobia in the new prohibition, President Nicolas Sarkozy's Government defends as a bulwark protecting the identity of the France against inequality and extremism. Soft font that it will be difficult to enforce.

"The law is very clear." Hiding your face in public places is cause of imposing sanctions, "Minister of the Interior, Claude Guéant said Monday at a meeting of the EU at Luxembourg. He said he defends "" two fundamental principles: the principle of secularism and the principle of equality between men and women. ""

Two veiled women were taken by police for having participated in a demonstration allowed, said the authority of police in Paris. They were released later Monday after questioning.

Amnesty International condemns the detention of two women and others to the protest.

It was not clear if the women were also fined for wearing a veil.

Kenza Drider, raided French Muslims in North Africa, wearing a niqab, seen outside the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris on Monday. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)

The said Act veiled women are likely a 150 euro ($210 Cdn) fine or special citizenship classes, only in prison. People force women to wear a veil are subject to up to a year in jail and 30,000 - euro ($ 41,000) fine and perhaps twice that if the veiled person is a minor.

The ban affects women who wear the hijab and the burka. The Act is formulated to skate safely with legal minefields: the words "women", "Muslim" and "sailing" are not even mentioned. The law says it is illegal to hide his face in public space, but makes exceptions for motorcycle helmets, traditional ceremonies such as marriages or Carnival costumes.

While the Italy also has a law against the concealment of the face for reasons of security, right of the France was the first designed for sailing-bearing to target. Sarkozy has said that he wanted a ban, and that the sails are not welcome in France.

Although only a very small minority — 2 000 women in the most - France five million Muslims wear the veil, many Muslims see the ban as an affront to the religion of no. 2 of the country.

Journalist independent Genevieve Oger said CBC News from Paris that women veiled in France are rarely outside high-immigration areas a few.

"If you plan to see walking in the street in France, which is actually quite rare," she said. "" "". As a result, many people say that this law is really just only symbolic and that it will have no impact. ?

About a dozen people, including three women wearing niqabs with just a slit for the eyes, went protest before Notre Dame Monday, saying that the ban is an affront to their freedom of expression and religion.

Many more large crowds of police, journalists and tourists filled the place.

Oger, said that, in many cases, women are young girls, born in France of immigrants who have a "spiritual awakening" and become more religious than their family, wearing of the veil as a statement of identity - often over the objections of their parents.

The ban affects women who wear the niqab, which has just a slit for the eyes and the burka, which has a screen mesh over the eyes.

Kenza Drider, who lives in the Sauvignon and carries a niqab, calls the racist of the ban.

Muslim women veiled in London take part in a protest against the France, prohibiting the wearing of veils Monday. Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Just before the entry into force of the ban, she told Associated Press that she would continue to "shopping, to the post office and if necessary City Hall."

"I under no circumstance will stop port my veil.". If I am notified verbally and must appear before the local attorney. … I will call on the European Court of human rights. ?

The veil, for her, "is a submission to God," said Drider.

The ban had strong support from major political parties of the France on the left and right in a country which has separated the Church and the State with an act of 1905, but has struggled in recent years to integrate the Muslim population growth.

On Saturday, police arrested 61 people - including 19 women - for having attempted to organize a demonstration prohibited in Paris against the ban pending the France face-covering veils.

Muslim leaders also agree that Islam does not require and moderate in France women cover their faces, but many are uncomfortable with the ban on headscarves. Religious leaders have denounced the measure and are faced with the need to inform the faithful.

' Is not a racist act... You must accept if you want to integrate with the French people and France '-Laurent Berrebe, a resident of Paris

Plans for a ban prompted protests in Pakistan last year and the warnings of al-Qaeda. He also has whimsical fervent Muslim tourists, since it applies to visitors and French citizens.

Public opinion in Paris on the morality of the application of the prohibition appears mixed.

"It is not a racist act." It is just an act that origin of the story of France and you have therefore need to accept it if you want to integrate with France and the French people, "insisted Laurent Berrebe, Economist, walk in the Centre of Paris on Monday."

Nurse ALO Belmanaa is opposed.

"We are in France, we are in a democratic country where everyone has the right to do what they want. If they want to wear a veil or go completely naked it is their right. ?

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