French Muslim women in burkhas face losing benefits and a bus ban

Paris, Jan.20 (ANI): Women wearing a full-body burkha could be banned from using public transport or receiving state handouts, a French government spokesman has said.

According to The Telegraph, the call came just days after the head of President Nicolas Sarkozy's political party said Muslim women who wear a full face veil, or niqab, should be refused French nationality.

UMP party spokesman Frederic Lefebvre has demanded any woman breaking a proposed law making the garment illegal should be "deprived of her rights."

He said: "When you don't respect your responsibilities, you should not have access to any benefits. The rights and responsibilities of citizens in France are important. When you ignore rules that make things illegal, like a ban on the burkha, you have to have some of your rights taken away, like the right to state benefits or using public transport."

The findings of a six-month parliamentary inquiry into the garments will be published next week after which Sarkozy wants MPs to vote on a total ban. (ANI)