MONTREAL – Muslim women will be forced to uncover their faces if they want services from the Quebec government, according to landmark legislation tabled Wednesday in the province. In tabling the bill, Quebec delves into sensitive territory where governments in Canada have largely avoided treading: setting hard-and-fast rules for accommodating minorities. The bill says people obtaining – or delivering – services at places like the health-or auto-insurance boards will need to do so with their faces in plain view. Face-coverings won’t be tolerated if they hinder communication or visual identification.

My hijab story began 5 years ago when I became tired of having lewd looks thrown at me by men. The last straw came when an old man stared at me and I could see in his eyes he was undressing me, and I thought “How dare that lowlife look at me as if he had a right to?” I wore hijab, complete with jilbab, the very next day.Thus, wearing the hijab became protection for me and for my dignity against any lewd thoughts and actions, such as flirting from men.

A round-up of some niqab-related news for anyone interested in keeping up (in France, Denmark and Italy and Egypt).

A Massachusetts college has modified a controversial security policy after criticism it infringed on the religious rights of students, a school official said Friday.

The parliamentary leader of the ruling French party is to put forward a draft law within two weeks to ban the full-body veil from French streets and all other public places.