New Austrian law bans full-face Muslim veil in public places

Full-face Muslim veils in public spaces are now banned by law in Austria, which says faces must be visible from the hairline to the chin. The ban covers the burka and the niqab, as well as medical face masks and clown makeup. The ban came into force as the far right Freedom Party was predicted to see gains in Austria’s general election later this month.
France and Belgium introduced burka bans in 2011 and a similar measure being processed in the Dutch parliament.