Europe's veil bans target Muslim women

Since France banned women from wearing veils that covered the face in public in 2011, a growing number of European nations have passed similar restrictions.

Belgium, Bulgaria and Austria have passed similar so-called "burqa bans," while Germany, Switzerland, Norway and other countries are considering such legislation.

The laws have sparked a public debate about religious freedom, feminism and xenophobia. On this edition of Global Journalist, a look at how Europe's courts, legislators and public are grappling with the debate about the meaning of Islamic dress in Western societies.

Joining the program:

• Sahar al-Faifi, a molecular geneticist and volunteer activist with the U.K.-based anti-Islamophobia group Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND).
• Lina Vosyliute, a researcher who studies minority rights at the Centre for European Policy Studies.
• Sarah Haider, a co-founder of the group Ex-Muslims of North America.
• Celine Ibrahim, the Muslim chaplain of Tufts University and a scholar in residence at the Andover Newton Theological School.

Assistant producers: Ailean Beaton, Edom Kassaye, Rayna Sims
Supervising producer: Lauren Wortman