Burqa ban opponent fined by French court

[rug]

By Saskya Vandoorne, CNN

(CNN) – A woman fighting France's ban on Islamic face coverings was fined 120 euros ($162) Thursday for wearing a burqa, the first fine handed down by a French court over the controversial law.

Hind Ahmas sought out the punishment so she could take her fight to a higher court, she told CNN. A second woman, Najet Ait Ali, was fined 80 euros ($108) in the same court appearance.

"I am happy to be fined, since I can now take this to the European Court of Human Rights," Ahmas said.

"It's not about the amount I have to pay. It's about the principle," she said, calling the ban "pure provocation. I'm fighting to be able to walk freely in the street."

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/22/france-hands-down-first-burqa-ban-sentences/

[joeybee12]

1. Good for her...education, not bans...knr

[ZombieHorde]

2. The burka ban is profoundly sexist for at least two reasons.

1) The pro-ban folks claim to know the thoughts of every woman when they declare no woman really wants to wear the burka.

2) The ban gives men the "duty" to forcibly lay their hands on women who are not hurting anyone.

[jberryhill]

3. Women must be controlled by the state

It is imperative that women wear only what the state allows.

[ElboRuum]

4. Never agreed with this...

...amounts to a state-sponsored dress code.