A law banning full-face coverings such as the Islamic veil in public places has come into force in Austria on Sunday. The law states that the face must be visible from hairline to chin. It includes scarves, ski and medical masks and clown disguises.
Tourists visiting the country and employees working at institutions such as the UN, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are also to comply with the legislation.
They are only allowed at certain “cultural events.” Police will be able to use force to make those violating the ban uncover their faces and impose a fine of €150.
The burqa ban was brought in by Austrian Foreign Minister and leader of the centre-right People's Party, Sebastian Kurz.
A Muslim woman defying the ban in the Austrian village of Zell am See was forced to remove her veil by a police officer.
Additionally, a group of protestors covering their faces with various masks gathered in front of the parliament building in Vienna to protest the “burqa ban.”
France was the first European country to ban the burqa in 2011 followed by Belgium.