A female surveillance office for the Paris police who was suspended for wearing the Islamic veil on duty, will face a disciplinary committee, sources close to the investigation told AFP Wednesday.

In November 2009 the Paris prefecture of police suspended Nora B., who will appear before the committee on Thursday, for contravening her neutrality obligations while on duty.
 

B., a uniformed surveillance officer in charge of circulation in the capital, refused to sign the suspension order and "provoked tensions" by continuing to go into work wearing her veil.
 

The French interior ministry told AFP the "decision" had been taken by the Paris prefecture, "using its powers as municipal police" in the capital.
 

B. faced a similar procedure in 2004 but agreed to remove her veil after meeting with the police prefect at the time, Jean-Paul Proust.

France's secular charter from 2007 asks civil servants not to display their religious beliefs while on duty.
 

The case comes in the midst of a national debate over what it means to be French, with the government seeking to legislate for a ban on the head-to-toe burqa on the grounds that it is incompatible with French values.

A recent survey showed 57 percent of French people were in favour of a law banning the full veil, and a parliament report has suggested it be outlawed in schools, hospitals, government offices and public transport.
 

Source: AFP