Two French female students make a film dressed in a niqab, mini-shorts and bare legs

Calling themselves the “Niqabitches,” two French students recently filmed themselves strutting past various government ministries in Paris dressed in a black veil, leaving only their eyes visible but with their bare legs and black high heels on show.

In an opinion piece published on the news website, rue89 (it’s in French, I’m afraid but there’s an English version of the video here), the anonymous duo – political science and communication students in their twenties – said the film was a tongue-in-cheek way of criticising France’s niqab ban, which the Senate passed last month and is due to come into force early next year (see WVoN story).

At one stage in the film, the two women approach the entrance to the ministry of immigration and national identity, only to be told by a policeman to go elsewhere.

However, a policewoman also present seems intrigued by them: “I love your outfit, is it to do with the new law?” she asks.

“Yes, we want to de-dramatise the situation,” one girl replies. “It’s brilliant. Can I take a photo?” asks the policewoman, who will soon be required to fine public niqab wearers.

“To put a simple burka on would have been too simple. So we asked ourselves: ‘how would the authorities react when faced with women wearing a burka and mini-shorts?,” asked the students, one of whom is a Muslim.

“We were not looking to attack or degrade the image of Muslim fundamentalists – each to their own – but rather to question politicians who voted for this law that we consider clearly unconstitutional,” they said.

To read the full story and watch the video visit The Telegraph.