France burka debate set as Spain also pushes for ban

A French government proposal to ban the full-face veil will be debated in parliament between 6 and 9 July, it has been confirmed. The lower house National Assembly will read the bill before it passes to the Senate in September. It could pass into law soon afterwards.

RFI

The news comes as Spain's upper house of parliament approved a motion calling on its government to ban the wearing in public of face-covering veils like the burka and niqab.

The motion was introduced by the main opposition conservative Popular Party and was narrowly approved by 131 votes to 129.

"Today, a very important step in favour of freedom and women's equality was taken," the deputy leader of the Popular Party, Maria Dolores de Cospedal, said after the vote.