France set to vote on face veil ban

France’s parliament is set to vote on proposed legislation banning the wearing of face veils in public places.  

If passed, prospective punishments for those violating the law include imprisonment and a hefty fine.

Violators of the ban may also be forced to take educational classes on how to be a proper French citizen in a country home to five million Muslims.

Rights groups have criticised the bill for being demeaning and stifling freedom of expression.

Al Jazeera’s Laurence Lee reports.