WordBulletin

World Bulletin / News Desk

The leader of France‘s far-right National Front (FN) party stepped up her offensive against Islam Friday, calling for a public ban on the Muslim headscarf.

Marine Le Pen‘s remarks in an interview with Le Monde newspaper come amidst tensions in the Muslim world over an anti-Islam film and French cartoons insulting to Prophet Mohammed.

Le Pen had been calling for a ban on religious symbols in public administrations but left open whether it should extend to public transport and not discussed a ban in the street.

Asked if a ban would include the Jewish kippa, she said: "Obviously if we ban the veil, we would ban the kippa in public places."

Religious symbols are currently banned only in state schools. A separate law bans the Muslim face veil in public places.

Le Pen came third in this year‘s presidential elections on an anti-immigrant platform.