The French parliament has passed a law prohibiting the wearing of full-face veils in public, meaning a ban will come into force early next year if it is not overturned by senior judges.

The Senate passed the bill by 246 votes to one and, having already cleared the lower house in July, the bill will now be reviewed by the Constitutional Council, which has a month to confirm its legality.

The text makes no mention of Islam but president Nicolas Sarkozy’s government promoted the law as a means to protect women from being forced to wear Muslim full-face veils such as the burka or the niqab.

Then make the forcing of wearing a disguise an offence!!

Once in force, the law provides for a six-month period of “education” to explain to women already wearing a face veil that they face arrest and a fine if they continue to do so in any public space.

This law acts against the putative VICTIMS, not the male perpetrators.

It is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!

A woman who chooses to defy the ban will receive a fine of 150 euros ($207) or a course of citizenship lessons.

Arrgghh!! More ‘blaming the victim’ stupidity.

A man who forces a woman to go veiled will be fined $41,420 and serve a jail term.

What about a woman who forces a woman to go veiled?

What about a man who chooses to wear a burkha?

This law is not only cretinous and utterly injust, it is also exceedingly sexist.