Women who wear a burqa or niqab out in public in the Swiss region of Ticino will face as much as a $9,800 fine after the local government made it illegal to wear face veils in public.
Nearly two-thirds of voters in the Swiss region supported the ban in a referendum two years ago. The legislation was passed by the cantonal parliament of the Italian-speaking Swiss region earlier this week, according to the Swiss edition of The Local.
A burqa, which covers the body from head to feet, is worn in many Muslim-majority countries. Essentially, full-face veils were banned completely in public places, including shops, restaurants, and behind the wheel of a car. There will be no exceptions for tourists. However, other forms of face coverings like masks, balaclavas, or helmets will be permitted. Those who break the new face veil law will face a fine ranging from approximately $100 to $9,800.
When the parliamentary session deal with the burqa took place, security measures were increased. A metal detection device was installed in the building to screen people coming inside the building, the ATS news agency said.
