Marine Le Pen has reiterated her plans to ban head scarves during her latest clash with Emmanuel Macron ahead of a French Presidential election run-off vote.
Ms Le Pen, who has previously vowed to ban the headscarf if she assumed office, confirmed that she stood by the idea.
But she has been warned by current French President Emmanuel Macron that such a decision could spark a “civil war”.
During a televised debate ahead of Sunday’s vote, Ms Le Pen said: "I'm telling it in a very clear manner: I think the headscarf is a uniform imposed by Islamists.
Marine Le Pen
CHRISTIAN HARTMANN
“I think a great proportion of young women who are wearing it have no other choice in reality.”
Mr Macron responded by saying: “What you're saying is very serious. You are going to cause a civil war. I say this sincerely.”
The comments come after a French study found that a ban on veils in schools leads to Muslim girls getting better grades.
The wearing of a veil and other "ostentatious religious signs" were banned in all French schools in 2004.
Earlier in the debate, Mr Macron said Ms Le Pen was unfit to replace him as president because of her ties to Moscow.
He added: “War is raging on the continent.
“Times are very dangerous indeed. Russia is strengthening its offensive, and this will lead to more human disasters.”
Mr Macron is moving further ahead in the opinion polls ahead of the run-off.
But with many people still undecided on who to vote for, Ms Le Pen remains in with a slim chance of claiming victory.
Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen faced off on Wednesday
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