France set to vote on face veil ban

France's parliament is set to vote on a proposed legislation banning the wearing of face veils in public places.

If passed, prospective punishments for those violating the law include imprisonment and a hefty fine.

Violators of the ban may also be forced to take educational classes on how to be a proper French citizen in a country home to five million Muslims.

Rights groups have criticised the bill for being demeaning and stifling freedom of expression.

Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports.

[July 6, 2010]