Riyadh: A leading Saudi cleric hit out at France for moving to ban face-veils, but approved Muslim women foregoing veils when visiting a country which outlaws them, a Saudi paper reported on Saturday.
The cleric's ruling was in response to a question from a Saudi woman in France about how to respond to a movement there to ban full-face veils. Governments in Spain and Belgium are also considering bans.
"It is illogical and unreasonable that the French government undertakes such a thing, which is condemned by neutral people, not just Muslims, because the secular state assures freedom of religion," Shaikh Aed Al Qarni told Al Hayat.
"The state has to respect religious rituals and beliefs, including those of Muslims," he said in an interview.
However, he added, if Muslim women are in a country that has banned the niqab, or full-face veil, or if they face harassment in such a place, "it is better that the Muslim woman uncovers her face."
Agreement
Numerous scholars of various Islamic schools of thought agree on this point, Al Qarni said.
"We must not confront people in their own country or other countries, or bring hardship on ourselves."
Some European nations have struggled to balance their national identities with growing Muslim populations that have cultural practices that clash with their own.
His comments followed France's parliament voting on July 13 to ban the niqab.
The French senate will vote on the measure in September, after which it could still be challenged on constitutional grounds.
Several other European countries are also debating possible bans on the face veil.
