Laicite On The March?

A young Muslim girl in traditional Islamic dress sports French flags and a headband that reads "Fraternity" (file photo)

Hot on the heels of Switzerland's baffling minaret ban, French President Nicolas Sarkozy's party is taking aim at the niqab and burqa, according to Reuters:

PARIS (Reuters) -- France's ruling UMP party plans to present a bill to parliament in January on banning full Islamic veils in all public places and not just in certain buildings, a senior party official have said.

The bill would be accompanied by a resolution related to respect for women, Jean-Francois Cope, the parliamentary party leader of President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP, told a news conference.

-- Andy Heil