France says no to the Islamic veil.

After months of debate and the French Parliament say they want a partial ban on women wearing Islamic face veils.

The report proposes a ban in schools, hospitals, public transport and government offices. It also says that anyone showing signs of “radical religious practice” should be refused residence cards and French citizenship.

Types of Muslim headscarves There are several types of headscarves and veils for Muslim women. The ones that cover the face are the niqab and the burka. In France, the niqab is the type most commonly worn.

The interior ministry says just 1,900 women in France wear the full veils.

France has the largest Muslim population in Western Europe, and is an estimated five million.

The French government report says that women covering their faces go against the French republican principles of secularism and equality and is therefore unacceptable.

The Socialist opposition is opposed to full veins, but is against the ban because it could stigmatise Muslim women. Also it says is difficult to enforce.

President Nicolas Sarkozy's says all-encompassing veils were "not welcome in France". But did not call for a ban, saying "no-one should feel stigmatised" by any eventual law.

French public support the band, as this show in opinion polls.

Hugh Schofield from the BBC in Paris, says: “The reasoning behind the report is to make it as impractical as possible for women in face veils to go about their daily business. There is also a fear that an outright ban would not only be difficult to implement but would be distasteful and could make France a target for terrorism”.

Gavin Hewitt a BBC Europe editor says: “law may follow, but MPs are divided over what to do”.

Bernard Accoyer who presented the report to the French National Assembly says: “The face veil had too many negative connotations. He also said: "It is the symbol of the repression of women, and... of extremist fundamentalism. This divisive approach is a denial of the equality between men and women and a rejection of co-existence side-by-side, without which our republic is nothing."

Anyway for now French Parliament says: "Restrictions should be limited, and suggests a ban inside public buildings and say anyone who defies this ban will be denied services and state benefits".