19 August 2011

Australian state proposes law that would force Muslim women to remove veils or risk prison

Muslim women would have to remove their veils and show their faces to police on request or risk going to prison under proposed new laws in Australia’s most populous state to be introduced to parliament next week.

The New South Wales state government said Friday that under the law, police would be able to require anyone to remove a face covering for identification purposes — including a burqa, niqab, helmet or mask.

State Premier Barry O’Farrell said those who want to be identified privately for cultural and religious reasons would be able to go to a police station. © 1996-2011 [The Washington Post] Read more