Austria to ban full-face veil in public places

[karthikc]

Austria's will ban the veil in public places as part of a raft of new measures to appease far-right opposition, its chancellor announced today.
Christian Kerr said 'the full-face veil will be banned in public spaces' as he announced a raft of new plans to be implemented over the next 18 months.

A new 35-page document also says that migrants granted the right to stay in Austria will be forced to sign an 'integration contract' and a 'statement of values'.

There was no specific ban on headscarfs for civil servants, backed by the far right, but the guidance insists employees 'present themselves as religiously neutral'.

The document includes details on how Austria will beef up its security services.

It also promises the government will lower taxes and non-wage labour costs, restrict access to the labour market for foreign workers and create 70,000 new jobs.

'Those who are not prepared to accept Enlightenment values will have to leave our country and society,' the text says.
Kern said he wanted to avoid 'giving 600,000 Muslims in Austria the feeling that they are not part of our society.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4173502/Austria-announces-ban-Islamic-veils-public.html

 

[Madplayer]

"Enlightenment" haha
But i guess the veil isnt necessary in the first place so its fine.

 

[JaDed]

They wont ban headscarves as it will affect their majority religion. I guess enlightenment is only one sided.

 

[Major]

Good decision

 

[SL_Fan]

Austria 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 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.

"We are committed to an open society, which also presupposes open communication. A full-face veil in public places stands in its way and will therefore be banned," it said.

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

One government spokesman told an Austrian newspaper that the ban would apply for ski resorts such as Zell am See as much as the centre of Vienna.

Several European countries have imposed similar bans but the Austrian move is, according to the vice chancellor a "symbolic" step.

Integration Minister Sebastian Kurz said it was important to be seen to be neutral, especially for anyone dealing with the public in the police or schools.

France and Belgium introduced a burqa ban in 2011 and a similar measure is currently going through the Dutch parliament.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said last month that the full-face veil should be prohibited in Germany "wherever it is legally possible". The UK does not ban the niqab or burqa.

Further measures agreed by Austria's Social Democrats and their conservative People's party partners include electronic tagging of former jihadists and a proposed curb on foreign workers.

Many of the plans must be hammered out in detail and receive parliamentary approval before they can come into force, BBC Vienna correspondent Bethany Bell reports.

What is a niqab and a burka?

The niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear. However, it may be worn with a separate eye veil. It is worn with an accompanying headscarf.

The burka is the most concealing of all Islamic veils. It is a one-piece veil that covers the face and body, often leaving just a mesh screen to see through.

Link

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Good decision.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Hopefully that will put an end to the menace posed to the Austrian public by these 150 burka wearing women.

 

[The_KING]

Excellent decision. I have always been against face veils and burkas.

 

[Justcrazy]

Expected decision , this is exactly leading to where prophet had prophecized

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Expected decision , this is exactly leading to where prophet had prophecized

Yeah how unexpected that Europe might ask people to show their face in public :/

 

[Black Zero]

Muslim population growing fast in Austria, in 1990 it was 2% and now more than 6%.
But I do not how many wear full veil there.

 

[Black Zero]

Expected decision , this is exactly leading to where prophet had prophecized

Please pass us the reference as I know that in that pre islam dress code was pretty flexible, especially during hajj and islam enforced dress code.

 

[PakLFC]

Good. I don't like the full veil either. It is unnecessary and intimidating. Muslim's must also learn to compromise when living in the west. Can't always have things your own way.

 

[imrankhannsu]

When they ban attire like this, isnt this a violation against human rights??

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Muslim population growing fast in Austria, in 1990 it was 2% and now more than 6%.
But I do not how many wear full veil there.

150 women according to the article in the OP.

 

[Black Zero]

150 women according to the article in the OP.

Thanks
I could not find in OP's article but got it from post#5