This article analyzes the relationship
between French laws passed in 2010, which
prohibit the wearing of garments that
conceal the face in public spaces, and
European human rights laws and values. The
author argues that the laws are clearly
intended to restrict the wearing of full-
face veils by Muslim women. McCrea first
looks at the rights that may be infringed
by a ban before analyzing the legitimacy
of and possible justification for the ban
itself. The author finds that a ban cannot
be justified solely on the grounds that
the veil is offensive because of European