French Senate Bans Islamic Veils in Public

The French Senate voted near-unanimously to ban wearing burka-style Islamic veils in public today, the BBC reports. The measure must still past muster with the country's Constitutional Council, but unless those judges raise objections, it will become law in 6 months. The Senate confirmed the measure by a vote of 246 to 1, following passage in the lower house. It affects about 2,000 women, notes AP. Critics call it another example of Islamophobia, and for more on that phenomenon, click here.
(More burka stories.)