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It isn't a matter of free choice but a decision by a society whether to ban a form of dress they consider to be anti-social in their value system. Think of it the other way: essentially every Muslim nation has modesty codes that apply to everyone, so no Western woman could wear a mini-skirt in Riyadh. That's their social construct.
We have had the same issue in the US; some Muslim women wanted to have their driver's licenses in FL show only the completely covered face with only the eye hole. That's not a recognizable picture of human being so their position was fought over and rejected.
The French are considering how far the qualities of French citizenship, which have been important since the Revolution brought back the concept of "citizen." They have already banned a number of religious manifestations in schools and now they're considering whether the burka - not a veil but a full body covering - is contrary to French values. That's their right.
I also admit to a bias; Muslim nations are the most intolerant on earth and fall on a range of absolute ban on every single other religion to minimal tolerance, with only a few falling anywhere near the Western standard. Look at how the Copts are being treated in Egypt now as the state uses the fear caused by swine flu to destroy their livelihoods. And yet Muslims come to the West and demand that their ways be tolerated. No. Come to the West and fit in.
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