The ruling centrist coalition also considers a ban on headscarves and other religious symbols for state employees.
A bill proposed by the coalition of the Social Democratic Party and the Austrian People's Party may ban wearing the full-face veil in public places. Only 150 women in Austria are estimated to wear burqas and niqabs.
The coalition says in a statement: “We believe in an open society that is also based on open communication. Full-body veils in public spaces stand against that and will therefore be prohibited.”
The ban will cover the entire territory of Austria. Representatives of the tourism industry fear the measure may scare away tourists from the Gulf, badly affecting ski resorts.
Politicians also discuss an opportunity to prohibit public service employees from wearing clothes that don’t cover the full face but can be regarded as religious symbols. The ban may be applied to traditional Islamic headscarves. Integration Minister Sebastian Kurz said public institutions must be religiously neutral, so the restriction may be approved.
Many experts agree that the measures are designed to counter the rise of far-right Freedom Party known for its hardline stance against immigration and multiculturalism.
Wearing the full-face veil is already forbidden in France, Belgium, Switzerland and several regions in Spain. The Dutch parliament voted for a similar ban in late November. In early December, Angela Merkel called to impose similar measures in Germany.
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