Reply #99: Here are interesting takes on it from Guardian, including French Muslims...

[uppityperson]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/14/tycoon-fund-to-fight-french-niqab-ban

Tycoon plans €1m fund to fight French niqab ban

Businessman Rachid Nekkaz hopes to render new law useless by paying fines for women caught wearing veil in street.
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I like this op-ed article also:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/jul/13/france-burqa-ban-veil
A week ago the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe also issued a unanimous resolution condemning a general law, although it stated that legal restrictions may be justified "for security purposes, or where the public or professional functions of individuals require their religious neutrality, or that their face can be seen". It also recognised that "no woman should be compelled to wear religious apparel by her community or family" and that European governments should educate Muslim women on their rights and freedoms.
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As we know, very few Muslim women wear the burqa or the niqab; many Muslims are in fact opposed to these covering practices; and certain security issues brought up in support of the burqa ban are not totally unfounded (Yassin Omar, the 21/7 bomber allegedly fled London dressed in a burqa; several suicide bombers in Iraq – including a female Belgian convert – were covered; Italy has had a law banning covering your face since Red Brigades and the "years of lead"). The problem with the laws currently being discussed across Europe has a lot to do with the tone used and with the contradictory approach adopted in our countries in matters pertaining to freedom and diversity.
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Aha, here...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/13/french-ban-face-veils
The main body representing French Muslims says face-covering veils are not required by Islam and not suitable in France, but it has expressed concern that the law will stigmatise Muslims in general.
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Finally, "gee, look at the shiny thing" take on it, another op-ed piece.

French burqa debate is a smokescreen
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/08/france-burqa-ban-sarkozy-political-distraction
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Again, personally, I can see both sides of the issue. Banning full veils or face coverings including balaclavas, in places where security is an issue is fine with me. The Koran does not demand full face veils, but some cultures do. There is a lot of anti-north African sentiment and bigotry in France (how DARE the people in our colonies dare to come here?). Smokescreen? I can see that also.