In the Middle East, the largest population of men and women is Muslim. The Muslim religion suggests that women wear a veil or hijab, which is a headscarf that only exposes the woman's eyes, accompanied by a burqa which is a cloak that covers the entire body. The sole purpose of clothing is to hide a woman's feminine features from the eyes of men. The Quran, an Islamic scripture, supports and slightly mandates uniformity by saying that women must be conservative, "let them wear the headdress on their breasts and not show their ornaments." (Koran). One might infer that women willingly wear the burqa and veil due to their geographic location. However, when Muslim women are withdrawn from the Middle East and placed in other countries such as France, they become a minority group, attracting attention due to their unusual customs. The wearing of the burqa and veil by Muslim women in France has become a controversial topic. The burqa and veil are recognized in France as a uniform in conflict with the French way of “preserving the republic and its democratic and secular tradition” (Graff). France initially addressed the issue by intervening in school systems in 2004. That year it passed the Secularism Law which “bans the wearing of the Muslim hijab, Sikh headdresses, large Christian crosses or crucifixes, Jewish yarmulkes, etc. .” (News on religious conflicts and intolerance) in public schools. Furthermore, in 2010 France banned the total public use of the Muslim headscarf and burqa. The consequences for those who do not respect the law could include a fine or "lessons in French citizenship" (France begins to ban the niqab and burqa). The planned law, which would ban the use of the burqa and veil, has finally taken..... . middle of paper ....... February 1, 2004. Web. November 23, 2011.Harper, Ben. “Veiled Threats: Secularism and Religious Freedom in France.” Studentfreepress.net. Student Free Press Association, 15 September 2010. Web. 04 December 2011."News on religious conflicts and intolerance - 2004-July." Religioustolerance.org. July 2004. Web. 08 December 2011. .Papas, Voula. "Islam and women's rights | Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc." Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc | Founded in 1970. Web. 11 December 2011."Religious freedom". Auburn University. Network. 13 December 2011. "Society2; Religion in France; Beliefs; Secularism (laicité)." The Franco-American site; Intercultural; Advice for Americans about France and Paris; France and the French. Network. November 23, 2011."Why dress codes and why now?" Coordination center on educational policy and management. Network. December 13. 2011.