France's parliament is set to vote on a proposed legislation banning the wearing of face veils in public places. <br /><br />If passed, prospective punishments for those violating the law include imprisonment and a hefty fine.<br /><br />Violators of the ban may also be forced to take educational classes on how to be a proper French citizen in a country home to five million Muslims.<br /><br />Rights groups have criticised the bill for being demeaning and stifling freedom of expression.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports.<br /><br />[July 6, 2010]
