A GRAND CHAMBER hearing of the European Court of Human Rights will be held today on France’s ban on wearing the full-face veil in public.
The case, S.A.A versus France, was brought by a French national following the introduction of a law prohibiting the concealment of one’s face in public places in April 2011.
A practising Muslim, she is no longer allowed to wear the niqab. In her submission, she says she wears the burqa and niqab in accordance with her religious faith, culture and personal convictions. She explicitly stated that she is not under pressure from her husband or family to dress in that manner.
The burqa is a full-body covering which includes a mesh over the face and the niqab is a full-face veil leaving an opening only for the eyes.
The applicant, who complains of a violation of her right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, says she took the case not to annoy others but to “feel at inner peace with herself”.
She also says that the statutory prohibition on wearing a garment designed to conceal one’s face in public places gives rise to discrimination based on gender, religion and ethnic origin, to the detriment of women who, like herself, wear the full-face veil.
The hearing begins at 1.30pm Irish time.
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