France's niqab ban 'violates' human rights, UN declares as it demands compensation for women 'confined at home and marginalised'

France's niqab ban 'violates' human rights, UN declares as it demands compensation for women 'confined at home and marginalised' 

France's ban on the niqab has been ruled a violation of human rights, The U.N. Human Rights Committee said on Tuesday. In a landmark ruling the UN moved to support wearers of the full-body Islamic veil and ordered France to repay two French women convicted for wearing niqabs in 2012. The committee said in a statement that France had failed to make the case for its so-called 'burqa ban' and ordered it to review the legislation. A panel of independent experts who oversee countries´ compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, said France had 180 days to report back to say what actions it had taken. Source