I really can't argue with your last sentence...and yet...
why make a law forbidding one group of people from demanding another group of people wear veils? It isn't a real crime, after all. Is it?
I've seen several references today that there are only around two thousand out of approximately five million French Muslims who actually wear this type of face covering in public places. Even though I have seen some quotes by one or two of them stating they will defy this law and cover their faces anyway,
I can imagine there may be hundreds if not thousands or even millions of Muslim women around the world who may be relieved to see a government authority assert itself in this manner.
I highly doubt it. This isn't an attack on people being forced on doing things this is a measure to make silly people feel safer because muslims can't wear burkas, which means nothing... remember the shoe bomber? Thank God that didn't happen in France or Muslims wouldn't be allowed to wear shoes.
Truth be told if they'd have passed a law against all clothing that covers the face and full body it'd be a different issue, they banned the burka, it was directly aimed at the religion so there won't be alot of happy campers within the muslim world period, for the burka or not.
Basically France is saying hey, as a free country we're not going to just standby and allow people to be oppressed in the name of religion...Citizenship requires face-to-face communication in public places for all equally.
Look you can say this is for security reasons and that argument might hold some water, but
it's a huge insult to the intelligence of those women who do wear burkas out of religious conviction to say that your passing a law because it's oppressive.