Al Qaeda's second in command has attacked France's proposed ban on face veils, describing the move as one of "shameless war".
In an audio recording claiming to be by Ayman al Zawahiri, he urged Muslim women to flout the ban at any cost.
The French parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the plan to outlaw face-covering veils, like the burka and niqab, earlier this month.
Zawahiri said: "In France, the pioneer of secularism, there is an overt and shameless war on hijab and niqab.
"What France is doing...should prompt us to hold on to our true religion in face of their deviant ideologies.
"My Muslim sisters, hold on to your hijab, even if it would cost you your money, education and jobs.
"You are mujahedat (female holy warriors) in the most important battlefield."
Other European countries, including Belgium and Spain, are considering bills similar to France's law.
Britain's immigration minister Damian Green has ruled out a ban on wearing the burka in public saying it would be "rather un-British".
