I also wanted to note that when discussing Europe it's important to distinguish which laws affect which nations. France banned the niqab, but this was not an EU-wide ban by any means. Québec did so as well in certain public spheres.
Before that there was outrage that they were banned from schools, but all religious clothing/symbols are banned from French schools (including Christian crosses). Secularism is a prominent part of French culture, and on the one hand I can see the concerns raised by some in French society over the discrimination of women that demands women wear burqas or niqabs.
Personally, I outright oppose the ban, not because of issues of "religious freedom," (admittedly I view religion as a largely oppressive force) but simply because it only perpetuates the alienation of victims rather than educating them and punishing their oppressors, and those women will be less likely to educate themselves or gain employment. The ban attacks the symptom instead of the cause. Secularism must be the result of education in the case of remnants of oppressive religious-based traditions.
Interesting article on the mixed views throughout the Muslim community:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/...overnment.html