France, Feb. 21 -- Top French politicans on Thursday backed a bill to tighten up rules stopping foreigners without the correct residency papers from getting married in France.

The plea for new legislation was taken to the Senate - France's upper house of parliament - by Stephane Demilly with the support of the Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and the Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin.

"How is it possible to marry someone who is not legally resident in France?" Demilly asked senators in his bid for the bill's approval.

"Is it conceivable to read the articles of the Civil Code in the town hall of the Republic to someone who has no right to be there? These are the reactions and questions from the people I talk to about it. And yet, our l...