French women face fine over niqab

Two French women who continue to wear the full-face veil in defiance of a new law banning it in France are set to appear in court for sentencing.

Hind Amas and Kenza Drider were caught wearing the niqab in public outside Meaux town hall, eastern Paris, in May.

They could become the first of 91 women stopped by French police to be handed the 150 euro (£130) fine.

Campaigners say if a fine is imposed they will appeal against it all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.

Thursday's sentencing in Meaux will be closely followed not just here in France but probably right across Europe.

Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland all have - or are planning - similar legislation.
Assault claimsDivorced mother Amas, 32, who will be sentenced with fellow campaigner and mother-of-three Drider, has become a champion for several hundred women in France who insist wearing the niqab is a personal choice and a right enshrined by European law.

Hind's parents were not strict Muslims. She put on the niqab for the first time six years ago as an educated single woman.

She claims she once wore mini-skirts and liked to party before she rediscovered her faith.

Some Muslim groups say since the ban was introduced in April a number of women have been assaulted both verbally and physically by members of the public.

These two women would most likely have to exhaust the appeals process here in France - which can take considerable time - before they can hope to test the legislation in the European court in Strasbourg.