France Bans Muslim Street PrayerDutch Draft Burqa Law

Hundreds of Muslims have reportedly defied a French ban on outdoor prayer, which went into effect today. The French government announced Thursday it was banning praying outside and officials had pledged to enforce it.

CBN  |  by Dale Hurd

French interior minister Claude Gueant said he had nothing against Islam but wanted it out of the public eye because France was a secular state. Here is my story about Muslim prayers in the streets of Paris. I'm told that it had a big political impact in France.

Meanwhile, the Dutch prime minister says the government has drawn up legislation to ban face-covering veils such as the burqa, worn by some Muslim women.

Mark Rutte says the proposed ban will be sent to the government's legal advisory body, the Council of State, before lawmakers vote on it. The legislative process is expected to take months. 

The government said in a statement Friday that the ban aims at "protecting the character and customs of public life in the Netherlands."
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