While France is the most wonderful nation on the planet, I find this trend disturbing.

Paris, France (CNN) — France’s lower house of parliament Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a ban on any veils that cover the face — including the burqa, the full-body covering worn by some Muslim women.

The vote was 335 to 1.

The measure must still go to the French Senate before it becomes law. The Senate is expected to vote on it in the week of September 20.

Amnesty International immediately condemned the vote.

“A complete ban on the covering of the face would violate the rights to freedom of expression and religion of those women who wear the burqa or the niqab in public as an expression of their identity or beliefs,” said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s expert on discrimination in Europe.

French people back the ban by a margin of more than four to one, the Pew Global Attitudes Project found in a survey this spring.

Some 82 percent of people polled approved of a ban, while 17 percent disapproved. That was the widest support the Washington-based think tank found in any of the five countries it surveyed.

Clear majorities also backed burqa bans in Germany, Britain and Spain, while two out of three Americans opposed it, the survey found. …

CNN – Burqa ban passes French lower house overwhelmingly

Proponents argue that it’s a security issue. Opponents say it’s a veiled slur against freedom of Religion.

I should say that even I was startled at the number of ladies wearing burqa in Germany last summer. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in public in Canada.

Businessman Rachid Nekkaz has committed to a €1m fund to fight the French ban.