This is me getting ranty

Umm. You're kidding me, right? Because the true test of your citizenship is your clothing?

GAH. This story makes me seriously unhappy. I know a girl who decided she wanted to wear the niqab (she's 15 right now I think although I don't know when she made the decision. I met her at the Reviving the Islamic Youth conference last year and she was wearing it then). It was her own decision, not her family's. And I really can't see any valid way you could make the connection between her wearing the niqab and practicing radical Islam. Apparently they know how in France though.

“She has adopted a radical practice of her religion, incompatible with essential values of the French community, particularly the principle of equality of the sexes,” the ruling said.

Really? I mean let's just ignore the assertion that wearing a niqab is a radical practice (and the implication that they have the right to arbitrarily decide what constitutes a radical practice and ban it despite it not having any impact on anyone beside the wearer herself) and look at that bit about equality of the sexes.

So. How is it practicing gender equality to deny the ability of a woman to make her own choices? Because Ms. Silmi pretty clearly states the niqab is her own choice.

“They say I wear the niqab because my husband told me so,” she said. “I want to tell them: It is my choice. I take care of my children, and I leave the house when I please. I have my own car. I do the shopping on my own. Yes, I am a practicing Muslim, I am orthodox. But is that not my right?”

That can't possibly be true ma'am. There's no way you would voluntarily adopt a practice you view as part of your religion. Particularly not one I think promotes gender inequality. Obviously your husband choose for you. You poor oppressed thing.

Also in answer to your question? No.

I wouldn't want to be a Muslim in France. =(