The Belgian House of Representatives [official website, in French] on Thursday voted 136-0 to approve [JURIST report] a bill that would ban the burqa and other full face veils in public. The proposed legislation [materials, in French] applies to areas "accessible to the public" or areas meant for "public use or to provide public services." Violators could face a penalty of up to seven days in jail or a fine of 15 to 25 euros. The measure must now go before the Senate [official website, in French]. France, which has Europe's largest Muslim population, has also been pressing for a ban on the burqa. Last month, the French Council of State advised the French government against a complete ban [JURIST report] on full Islamic veils because it risks violating the French Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights [texts]. Also last month, lawmakers in Quebec introduced a bill [Star report] that would ban women from wearing full face veils from public services, which garnered support from members of the Muslim Canadian Congress [official website] who argue that the law would not violate human rights [JURIST comment] and would promote the ideals of a free and democratic society.