France 'retreats' on burqa ban

A French parliamentary inquiry into the all-covering niqab and burqa is due to publish its recommendations next month and a compromise looks likely.

The paper quoted advisers as saying such a ban could be challenged before the European Court of Human Rights on the grounds that it hurts religious freedom.

Instead, the government will seek to banish the garments from public buildings such as town halls and police headquarters, where it can cite security concerns, it said.
Universities, streets and public transport would not be touched by the ban, which in any case would affect only a small group of people.