National Rally proposes fines for Islamic veil if it wins power

Paris – The National Rally (Rassemblement National) announced on Sunday that, should it assume governmental power, it intends to impose a fine on individuals who wear the Islamic veil. The proposal was outlined by party deputy Jean‑Philippe Tanguy, a close associate of Marine Le Pen during the recent presidential campaign, who said the measure would be part of a broader effort to combat what he described as “Islamist ideology.” Tanguy added that the policy would be “in solidarity with all the women around the world who are forced to wear it and who die for this freedom,” a statement reported by France 24’s Monte Francis.

The pledge follows the National Rally’s longstanding platform of stricter secularism and tighter controls on religious symbols in public spaces, echoing earlier debates over France’s 2004 law banning conspicuous religious attire in schools. If implemented, the fine would represent a new legal sanction targeting the veil, a move that could prompt challenges under French constitutional and European human‑rights frameworks. The party’s proposal arrives as it seeks to broaden its appeal ahead of upcoming elections, while civil‑rights groups have warned that such measures could exacerbate social tensions and infringe on individual freedoms.