An attack on women? It seems to me that it is in defence of women. I may be wrong, but I assume in most cases, it is not the woman who choses to wear a niqab. Just as i would assume that women to not chose to sit in the back balcony of their religious institution, or worse in another room.  As well, "A free society should honour" the right to observe the identity of any person we may contact in public. Excluding service to anyone wearing a balaclava (ski hills exempted), a niqab, a white pillow case, a Guy Fawkes mask, a keffiyeh, a goalie mask, surely seems appropriate and  reasonable.