France’s Constitutional Council endorses ban on Islamic face veils

France’s Constitutional Council endorses veil ban

PARIS — France’s Constitutional Council has endorsed a law forbidding face-covering Islamic veils anywhere in public.

The watchdog has expressed reservations, however, about its application in places of worship.

The council had earlier expressed concerns about the constitutionality of the law, which forbids veils such as the niqab or burqa and imposes a €150 fine on anyone wearing one.

After studying the law passed last month, the council announced Thursday that it adheres to the constitution.

Some fear the law risks stigmatizing even moderate Muslims. The law’s proponents say it preserves French values such as women’s rights and secularism.