August 15, 2009
Source: BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8203290.stm
A ban on the wearing of the burka in France would help stem the spread of the "cancer" of radical Islam, one of its female Muslim ministers has said.
Urban Regeneration Minister Fadela Amara told the Financial Times that a veil covering everything but the eyes represented "the oppression of women".
Ms Amara said she was "in favour of the burka not existing in my country".
The comments come as French MPs hold hearings on whether to ban the garment, which covers the body from head to toe.
The National Assembly set up the 32-member commission after President Nicolas Sarkozy said the burka was "not welcome" in France, home to Western Europe's largest population of Muslims.