Henry Samuel, of the Telegraph, recently reported on one of, if not the, most curious—and certainly one of the more provocative—stories to come out of Europe regarding the perceived spread and radicalization of Islam.
Responding to the recently passed legislation banning all face coverings, including—and many argue specifically—the Muslim religious garments the burqa and niqab, two French students decided to practice their own variant of civil disobedience. Donning full face veils and revealing mini-skirts, the self-styled “Niqabitches” filmed their exploits around Paris and in front of government ministerial buildings, gawking passersby and sympathetic police officers included. “We were not looking to attack or degrade the image of Muslim fundamentalists—each to their own—but rather to question politicians who voted for this law that we consider clearly unconstitutional,” they said, explaining why they made the film.
Were the ban in effect today, the women would be subject to a €150 fine or a remedial class in “citizenship” values. As of now, however, it appears the only thing they can be charged with is creating a video that is sure to go viral.