France Refuses Citizenship to Moroccan Man Who Forces Wife To Wear Veil

France has been stepping up its opposition to the Muslim tradition of women wearing full veils. It has not only moved toward a ban in public places, but it has now denied citizenship to a Moroccan man for his attitude toward women, including forcing his wife to wear a veil.

Immigration minister Eric Besson signed an order that denied citizenship based on the veil: “It emerged during the inquiry and the interview process that this person forced his wife to wear the full veil, deprived her of freedom of movement with her face exposed and rejected the principles of secularism and equality between men and women.”

The Council of State upheld the decision as based on values “incompatible” with French life and liberties: “Monsieur X displays in an everyday manner a discriminatory attitude towards women, going as far as refusing to shake their hands and advocating the separation of boys and girls including, at home, of brothers and sisters.”

While France has Europe’s largest Muslim population, a survey found that only 1,900 women wear full veils in France.

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