'Veil Wars' Reveal Europe's Intolerance

Politicians seeking to stop a small minority of Muslim women from wearing the veil in public are actually trying to send a harsh message to an embattled community.

Europe's traditions of secular tolerance appear to be haunted by the Islamic veil. Every week seems to bring new headlines announcing moves to crack down on the wearing of what critics appear to deem this most alienating symbol of Muslim faith, whether in French public schools, British government buildings or out in public in the Netherlands.