Dalil Boubakeur, the grand mufti of the Paris Mosque, the largest and most influential in France, testified to parliament during the bill's preparation. He commented that the niqāb was not prescribed in Islam, that in the French and contemporary context its spread was associated with radicalisation and criminal behavior, and that its wearing was inconsistent with France's concept of the secular state; but that due to expected difficulties in applying a legal ban, he would prefer to see the issue handled "case by case".
What are your thoughts on a Burqa ban: An Islamophobic violation of rights, or a common sense safety measure?
I'm no Islamophobe. While there are Radical elements, I, as a Catholic, respect their faith. Still, I support a Burqa ban. Even when the female consents to wear it, which is probably very rare, we cannot allow people to fully or even partially obstruct their face in public where ever they go. This is a huge safety risk.