By Susan Sachs, For The Straits Times

PARIS: President Nicolas Sarkozy, wading into a potentially explosive controversy, said yesterday that the face-covering burqa worn by some Muslim women 'is not welcome on the territory of France'.

In an address to both houses of Parliament, focused mainly on economic issues, the President supported the recent demand of some deputies for a debate on whether to ban the burqa. The question is not one of religion, said Mr Sarkozy, but of women's dignity. He called the burqa a 'sign of servitude' that forced submission which damages the dignity of women.

France has one of Europe's largest Muslim populations. Since 2004, it has prohibited the wearing of obvious religious symbols in public schools and public offices. The law was aimed at Muslim headscarves.

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