French Woman fined for driving while wearing a Veil
Traffic police in France have fined a Muslim woman for wearing Islamic face veil while driving, according to her lawyer Jean-Michel Pollono.
The woman was fined $29 in early April in the western city of Nantes, her lawyer said on Friday.
The fine was based on a rule that says drivers should have "freedom of movement and a sufficient field of vision."
Pollono said on France-Info radio that he is protesting the decision, saying a veil is "the same as a motorcycle helmet" in terms of hindrance to vision.
The French government is set to consider a bill that bans Muslim women from wearing full-face veils, known as burqa, in public places.
France is home to the largest Muslim population among the 27 European Union member states. Nearly 10 percent of the 62 million French population is Muslim.
According to the French government, the legislation if approved would affect around 2,000 Muslim Frenchwomen.
The woman was fined $29 in early April in the western city of Nantes, her lawyer said on Friday.
The fine was based on a rule that says drivers should have "freedom of movement and a sufficient field of vision."
Pollono said on France-Info radio that he is protesting the decision, saying a veil is "the same as a motorcycle helmet" in terms of hindrance to vision.
The French government is set to consider a bill that bans Muslim women from wearing full-face veils, known as burqa, in public places.
France is home to the largest Muslim population among the 27 European Union member states. Nearly 10 percent of the 62 million French population is Muslim.
According to the French government, the legislation if approved would affect around 2,000 Muslim Frenchwomen.
