Austria is set to ban wearing full-face veils in public, joining Belgium, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, and Switzerland, who also have approved similar bans.
Austria's ruling coalition announced the ban Tuesday as part of a larger plan meant to contain the rise of the far-right Freedom Party.
The coalition of Social Democrats and the centrist People’s party, who agreed on the ban, are calling for police offers, judges, magistrates, and public prosecutors to participate in the ban as well by refraining from wearing head scarves.
"We believe in an open society that is also based on open communication," the measure states, according to Fox News. "Full-body veils in public spaces stand against that and will therefore be prohibited."
Conservative Muslim women are most likely to be impacted by Austria's full-face veil ban, which will apply to burqas and niqabs. According to BBC News, approximately 150 Austrian women wear these veils but some officials worry the ban could hurt tourism.
According to Chancellor Christian Kern, the ban will be implemented over the next 18 months, The Sun reported.
The agreement includes security measures as well, as migrants will be required to sign “integration” contracts, The Sun noted.
“Those who are not prepared to accept Enlightenment values will have to leave our country and society,” the agreement says, The Sun noted.
Ibrahim Olgun, the president of Austria’s Islamic Community, criticized the ban, saying he believes it will “pull the plug” on efforts that have been geared toward creating a healthy rapport between the government and Muslims in the country, The Guardian reported.
France was the first European country to ban full-face veils six years ago.
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