Allow a woman to cover up and hide her identity or curtail her freedom to express her religion and beliefs.

That is apparently the choice the French parliament will have to make as they decide whether or not to ban the wearing of the burqa.

The burqa is a garment worn by Muslim women covering their body from head to toe.

Recently, it has become a controversial talking point in France. 

On Tuesday, the French parliament announced it will set up an inquiry to study the rising number of Muslim women who wear the burqa.

This comes just a day after Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, said burqas are not welcome in France.
 
So, will France ban the Burqa? And what is really at stake: religious freedom or France's secularity?
 
Inside Story, with presenter Nick Clark, discusses the issue with guests Muna Abusulayman, a leading Saudi media personality in the Middle East, Anne Elizabeth Moutet, a writer and a political commentator, and Jean-Marie Fardeau, director of Human Rights Watch's Paris office.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Thursday, June 25, 2009