Australian state toughens law on Hijab ( Veils )

05.03.2012

Burqa-clad Muslim women in Australia's most populous state will have to remove face veils as part of new tough identity check laws in New South Wales (NSW). The revised laws, which will come into force from April 30, will empower Justice officials with authority to look under religious face-coverings.

NSW Attorney General Greg Smith said "Justice of the Peace and lawyers will in future be required to ask anybody to remove all head coverings, including motorcycle helmets and masks, to prove who they are in case of statutory declarations."

"In some situations it means individuals wearing full and partial face-covering garments will need to reveal their face for the purpose of identification," he said.

The new tough laws on veils were passed on December 23 by the state Parliament that introduced a USD 5,900 fine and a 12 month prison sentence for anyone who refuses to remove face-coverings when requested by the police.