PARIS: Nearly four in five of the French support laws barring Muslim headscarves in public places including schools, and a narrow majority of people in Germany and the Netherlands view such regulations as a good idea, international polling found. Since this fall, French public school students have been barred from wearing head scarves or other highly visible religious attire to class.

A survey by the Pew Research Centre showed strong French backing for such laws - 78 per cent - as the students said they have an unfavourable view of Muslims, compared to 64pc favourable.