The judges from seven different coutries - Belgium, Turkey, Montenegro, Monaco, Iceland, Estonia and Moldova - also determined that the ban did not constitute discrimination.
Challenge
The decision was reached in Strasbourg following a challenge by two Muslim women – Belgian Samia Belcacemi, a Belgian in and Yamina Oussar, a Moroccan from the Belgian city of Liege.They had argued that the ban brouth into being in 2011 infringed their rights to respect for their private life and freedom of religion citing the fact they freely chose to wear the niqab for religious reasons. They now have three months to appeal the decision.
Punishment
Punishment for breaking the ban ranges from a fine to imprisonment. The decision follows a rejection of a similar challenge against the French ban on the veil.
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
