The ban would apply to the full-body veil known as the burqa or niqab. This is not an article of clothing — it is a mask, a mask worn at all times, making identification or participation in economic and social life virtually impossible.
Jean-Francois CopeIf you meet a woman in a burqa, she can't reply to your smile. It's a denial of identity.
Jean-Francois CopeI have a thought for Nicolas Sarkozy, you know my loyalty on his account, but I profess it too for Jacques Chirac.
Jean-Francois CopeThere are a certain number of extreme behaviours led by fundamentalists who are using their religion for political ends and use extremist techniques.
Jean-Francois Cope