Macron draws fire as admirer flouts law over Islamic face veil
Far-right lawmakers took aim at French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday after a woman wearing a full-face veil approached him ahead of a speech announcing new measures to fight Islamic "separatism" in the country.
Such veils, known as niqabs, have become a political lightning rod in France since 2010, when it became the first European country to ban them in public.
Critics say their use underscores the push by some Muslims to live apart from traditional French society, something Macron vowed to combat in a speech on Tuesday in Mulhouse, eastern France.
But while surrounded by police during a neighbourhood tour beforehand, a young woman wearing a burgundy niqab walked up to him through the crowd, a scene caught on camera and soon posted to social media.
She then removed the lower part of the veil for a selfie with the president, who obliged as usual with a wide smile.
The official fines of up to 150 euros ($160) for wearing clothing denoting a religious affiliation are only ...