Reuters reported on Friday that in France, nearly 60 legislators have asked a Parliamentary commission to investigate the spread of the practice of women wearing the burqa in France. If the investigation shows that women are being coerced into wearing the religious full face and body covering, Parliament may ban burqas in the country in order to protect individual freedoms.
UPDATE: On Monday (June 22), French President Nicolas Sarkozy, as part of a speech to Parliament, added his support to creation of a commission to study the burqa and ways to prevent its spread. Monday's New York Times reports that Sarkozy characterized the issue as one of freedom and women's dignity. Under recent reforms, the speech was the first by a French president to Parliament since 1875.
