Paris: A French woman who was driving while wearing an Islamic full-body veil was stopped by police in the city of Nantes and fined EUR 22 (USD 29), Europe 1 radio reported on Friday.
The police officer stopped her to check her identity, and she complied by uncovering her face. He then issued the fine because the facial veil allegedly reduced her field of vision.
The 31-year-old woman, who has been wearing the veil for nine years, charged this was discrimination and said she intended to file a complaint.
The incident occurred as the French government was preparing a draft bill to ban the wearing of the all-body veil. The ban is to be part of a general public order law that will outlaw wearing any kind of facial covering in public.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Thursday he will engage a special procedure to ensure that the ban becomes law before summer.
IANS
