MUSLIM WOMAN FORCED TO REMOVE HER NIQAB AS AUSTRIA’S BURKA BAN TAKES EFFECT TODAY
Following the ban on full-face veil, otherwise known as Burka in Austria, a Muslim woman from Zell am See village in the country was forced to remove her niqab by the Austrian police.
The Burka ban which took effect today states that faces must be visible from hairline to chin in public places and includes off-slope ski masks and surgical masks outside hospitals.
Recall that France and Belgium had introduced similar laws in 2011. The most recent is Switzerland, which enforced a ban on the full-face veil in July, 2016.
Austrian police have been authorized to forcefully compel people to show their faces while a fine of €150 (£132) would be placed on erring citizens. Exceptions were however given in rare circumstances such as cultural events.
Muslim groups, including the Islamic Religious Community in Austria have condemned the law, saying just few women in the country wear full-face veils.
According to Carla Amina Bhagajati of the Islamic Religious Community in Austria, “the handful of fully veiled women in Vienna now are criminalized and restricted to their homes”.
Credit: ALEDEH.COM
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