The government of France has denied citizenship to a Moroccan man who forces his wife to wear a full veil, saying the practice doesn't adhere to the country's values.

A ruling by the French council of state earlier this week said that the man, whose identity was not made pubic, displayed a "discriminatory attitude towards women, going as far as refusing to shake their hands and advocating the separation of boys and girls including, at home, of brothers and sisters."

"The lifestyle he has chosen may be justified by religious precepts but is incompatible with the values of the Republic, notably the principle of equality of the sexes," the ruling read

French immigration minister Eric Besson concurred with the ruling, saying in a statement that the man's behavior towards his French wife "rejected" the principles of secularism and women's rights and "deprived her of freedom of movement with her face exposed."

The count's action follows a push by the government in December to ban the full veil, which officials said was necessary to defend France from "extremists," according to parliamentary leader Jean-Francois Cope.

"There are principles at stake: extremists are putting the republic to the test by promoting a practice that they know is contrary to the basic principles of our country," Cope said in a statement

Proposals are currently being considered to prohibit the full veil from being worn in public places such as hospitals, post offices, and on public transit.