France refuses nationality to man who forced wife to wear veil

Eric Besson says the man acknowledged compelling his wife to wear the veil and thus “very clearly denied the principles of male-female equality” and secularism.

Besson’s office said the minister signed a decree Tuesday denying French citizenship to the man and sent it for approval to Prime Minister Francois Fillon.

France is considering whether to ban face-covering Muslim veils. A parliamentary panel has said they should be banned in places of public service, including mass transport and hospitals.

President Nicolas Sarkozy says such veils aren’t welcome in France.