new law in Austria means there is now ban on full-face veils. This means Muslim women will not be allowed to wear full-face veil in public in country. new law says faces must be visible from hairline to the chin. The government said the law is to protect traditional Austrian values. The law bans Muslim veils such as burka or niqab. Muslim groups have said the law is very unfair because it goes against human rights and religious freedom. They say that just tiny minority of Austrian Muslims wears full-face veils. They put number at around 150. Officials say law will damage Austria's economy. They say many Muslim tourists will decide not to visit Austria.
Austria is third European country to ban the wearing of veil. France and Belgium introduced similar bans in 2011. Other countries in Europe could follow. Dutch government is currently working on passing ban and German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that full-face veil should be banned in Germany "wherever it is legally possible". Carla Amina Bhagajati of Islamic Religious Community in Austria talked about how unfair new law is. She said "handful" of fully veiled women in Austria are now "criminalized" and "restricted to their homes". supporter of ban Emma Schwaiger said: "It's not right that those living here don't show their faces."
