Burqa fine could be up to €15,000

MEN who order their wives to wear a burqa in public could be fined up to €15,000 under a new law being drawn up the French government.

Le Figaro has seen a draft copy of the law on the full Islamic dress that is due to be put to parliament by July.

It imposes a basic fine of €150 for anyone in public whose face is hidden from view - lower than the €750 suggested by UMP party president Jean-François Copé earlier this year.

However the law would also introduce a penalty of up to €15,000 and a year in prison for anyone who imposes the burqa on someone through "violence or threats".

The government estimates that about 2,000 women in France wear the full Islamic dress.

If passed, a six-month educational campaign will be launched to explain the ban and the reasons behind it.

Shops and public services would have a right to refuse entry to a woman wearing the burqa and police officers in the street could ask that it be removed.

SOS Racisme says the proposed law is anti-constitutional and contravenes basic human rights.