France herds Muslim faithful off streets after prayer ban World Sep. 17, 2011 - 07:15AM JST ( 13 ) PARIS — A ban on praying in French streets came into effect on Friday, with thousands of the nation’s Muslim faithful being moved to temporary alternative spaces for their day of prayer. From Paris to Marseille, Friday’s midday prayers will be led from disused barracks or other temporary buildings, after the question of Islam’s visibility became a political issue under right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy. France, home to Europe’s largest Muslim population, this year banned the face-covering burqa and earlier this week...
