Italy approves burqa ban law

An Italian parliamentary commission has approved a draft law banning women from wearing veils that cover their faces in public.

An Italian parliamentary commission has approved a draft law banning women from wearing veils that cover their faces in public.

HT Image

The draft, which was passed by the constitutional affairs commission on Tuesday, would prohibit women from wearing a burqa, naqib or any other garment that covers the face in such circumstances. It would expand a decades-old law that for security reasons prohibits people from wearing face-covering items such as masks in public places.

Women who violate the ban would face fines, while third parties who force women to cover their faces in public would be fined and face up to 12 months in jail.