Govt to ban full-face veil in public places

Austria’s ruling coalition has agreed to prohibit full-face veils in public spaces such as courts and schools. It is also considering a more general ban on state employees wearing the headscarf and other religious symbols. The measures are seen as an attempt to counter the rise of the far-right Freedom Party, whose candidate narrowly lost […]

Austria’s ruling coalition has agreed to prohibit full-face veils in public spaces such as courts and schools.

It is also considering a more general ban on state employees wearing the headscarf and other religious symbols.

The measures are seen as an attempt to counter the rise of the far-right Freedom Party, whose candidate narrowly lost last month’s presidential vote.

The centrist coalition nearly collapsed last week amid crisis negotiations over the government’s future direction. Detailing the package of reforms, the coalition devoted just two lines to the planned ban on the Islamic niqab and burqa.