Muslim Tycoon Says He Will Help Muslim Women Pay ‘Burka Fines’ If French Outlaw Face Covering Veils

From Weasel Zippers:

(The Daily Mail) — France could ban burkhas by the end of September after a series of parliamentary votes was scheduled to begin.

Deputies, or members of the lower house, are tomorrow likely to approve the measure outlawing face-covering veils despite outrage among the country’s 5million Muslims.

Now a French tycoon is setting up a fund to help Muslim women pay ‘burka fines’ for hiding their faces in public.

Muslim businessman Rachid Nekkaz has today pledged to sell off 1million euros (£840,000) worth of property in Paris for the fund.

In an open letter published in national newspapers, he said a burka ban was unconstitutional and any woman fined for hiding her face could come to him for help.

The ban could be ratified in September when Senators are almost certain to approve the ban which has received overwhelming support from voters.

There was little resistance among lawmakers today as they debated the bill that proposes to fine wearers £140 and imprison men who force their wives to put on the outfit.

But the ban could be shot down by France’s constitutional watchdog or the European Court of Human Rights.

That could dampen efforts under way in other European countries toward banning the veils.