French veil ban gets green light

France's law banning Muslim headscarves in state schools has passed its final parliamentary hurdle in near silence, leaving politicians and teachers to wait until September to see if it helps reduce Islamic fervour here.

By an overwhelming 276-20 majority, the French Senate late on Wednesday passed the bill that the National Assembly - the lower house - had approved by 494 to 36 votes on February 10.

The ban, which targets headscarves but also outlaws Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses, comes into effect in September. Politicians and teachers had clamoured for it to stem a perceived wave of Islamic radicalism among Muslim youths. "We wanted to send a swift and strong message," Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said of the law, adding he had "neither the feeling nor the conceit to believe that this text has solved everything".

"Our plan is not aimed against any religion," he declared, defending the law against criticism it received from France's Muslims and other religious groups, Islamic countries and Pope John Paul.

In contrast to the heated public discussions before the National Assembly vote, the Senate debate passed off "in serenity, if not indifference", as the daily Le Figaro put it.

But the issue is not about to go away. Mr Raffarin announced last month that the veil ban would be followed by a law on public hospitals aimed at forcing traditional Muslims to follow western customs when seeking medical care.

In recent years, growing numbers of Muslim men have refused to be examined by a woman and have stopped male doctors from treating their wives. Some women will not undress for a checkup.

In the headscarf debate, Education Minister Luc Ferry has announced he will meet leaders of all concerned religious groups to see if they can work out compromises within the new law.