Morocco’s ban on the sale and production of burqa has sharply divided people in the N. African nation.
Award winning French-Moroccan novelist Leila Slimani said the burqa is not an item of clothing but an instrument of oppression.
Lawmaker and former minister Nouzha Skalli has said it will combat religious extremism.
Measure appeared to be motivated by security concerns, as criminals have repeatedly used this garment to perpetrate their crimes.”
Most women in Morocco, whose King Mohammed VI favours a moderate version of Islam, prefer the hijab headscarf that does not cover the face.
The niqab, which leaves the area around the eyes uncovered, is also worn in Salafist circles and in more conservative regions in the north.
Morocco: Know More - Morocco is officially known as the Kingdom of Morocco/The Western Kingdom
- Location: Maghreb region of North Africa.
- Geographically, Morocco is characterized by a rugged mountainous interior and large portions of desert.
- It is the only African country to have both an Atlantic and a Mediterranean coastline.
- Morocco has a population of over 33.8 million and an area of 446,550 km2 (172,410 sq mi).
- Capital: Rabat
- Largest city is Casablanca.
- Other major cities include Marrakesh, Tangier, Tetouan.
