First woman held for violating French veil ban is released

by Bailey Haack

A recently passed French law banning face-concealing veils caused controversy this week as it was implemented the first time, with the arrest of a woman Monday evening.

The woman, a 31-year-old of Moroccan descent who requested her name not be released, was allowed to leave the police station without a fine, according to the Sunday Times Zimbabwean Edition. She was originally told she would have to pay a fine when she was brought to the station.

The new law carries a fine of $210 for wearing a burka or a niqab, according to the Times. It was implemented as a barrier against Islamic extremism that ministers say "is threatening the secular nature of the French Republic."

The law also applies to people who force women to wear the veils. According to BBC News, this offense carries a larger fine and a prison sentence of up to two years.

France is the first country in Europe to publicly ban Muslim women from wearing face veils, according to BBC.