VIENNA (AP) — A law prohibiting any kind of full face covering — known popularly as the "Burqa ban" — takes effect Sunday in Austria, and strong support for it portends political upheaval in the country's Oct. 15 national election.
Austrian parties campaigning on an anti-migrant message are poised to win and form a coalition government, reflecting a rightward swing in a country that's mainly had centrist governments since World War II.
The law — called "Prohibition for Covering the Face" — also forbids off-slope ski masks, surgical masks outside hospitals and party masks in public. Offenders risk a fine of 150 euros (nearly $180).
Full veils remain rare in Austria despite the 2015 migrant surge into Europe. Support for the law is strong nonetheless, reflecting anti-Muslim attitudes in the predominantly Catholic country.
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