European Rights Court Upholds French Burqa Ban
12-31-1969
The European Court of Human Rights has upheld France's law banning Muslim veils from being worn on the streets.
The law restricts the wearing of veils that cover faces.
Tuesday's ruling is the first ruling of its kind since France passed a law in 2010 that forbids anyone to hide his or her face in various places.
The Strasbourg court rejected the arguments of a French woman who said the law violated her freedom of religion and was discriminatory.
The judges ruled the law has a legitimate purpose of promoting harmony in a diverse population.
