Austrian ban on full-face veil in public places comes into force

Legislation says faces must be visible from the hairline to the chin

A legislation that forbids full-face covering, including Islamic veils such as the niqab or burqa, has gone into effect in Austria.

The government said the law, which says faces must be visible from the hairline to the chin, was about protecting Austrian values.

The enforcement of the ban comes ahead of a general election later this month, which could see gains by the far-right Freedom Party.



Muslim groups in the country have condemned the law, saying just a small minority of Austrian Muslims wear full-face veils. The law also places restrictions on the use of medical face masks and clown makeup.

Some 150 women wear the full burka in Austria but tourism officials have expressed fears that the measures will also deter visitors from the Gulf.

France and Belgium introduced a burka ban in 2011 while a similar measure is currently going through the Dutch parliament. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that the full-face veil should be prohibited in Germany "wherever it is legally possible". The UK does not ban the niqab or burqa.

This story originally appeared on BBC.