Muslim woman forced to uncover her face by armed Austrian police in the street

She was instructed to remove her veil by two police officers in a city south of Saltzburg

Austria’s parliament approved the ban in May in spite of protests from Muslim groups and resistance from lawyers and even the country’s own president (AFP)

A Muslim women has been forcibly made to remove her facial coverings after a new law banning the face veil came into force in Austria.

The government say the new “integration” policy, which makes it illegal to wear clothes that obscure one’s face in public, has been implemented to protect Austrian values.

Those who defy the ban will be liable to a fine of €150 (£132) and must take off the garment “on the spot” if police instruct them to do so. The government say faces must be visible from the hairline to the skin under the new ban.

On Saturday, a woman wearing a niqab facial veil, which only leaves the eyes uncovered, was witnessed being instructed to remove her veil by two police officers in Zell am See, a city south of Saltzburg.

The new law not only bans Muslim veils such as the burka or niqab but also puts restrictions on the use of medical face masks and clown makeup.

Only an estimated 150 women wear the full burka in Austria but tourism officials have voiced concerns the measures will discourage visitors from the Gulf.

Austria’s parliament approved the ban in May in spite of protests from Muslim groups and resistance from lawyers and even the country’s own president.

The ban comes just before the general election later this month which could result in the far-right Freedom Party making headway.

Austrian parties espousing anti-migrant rhetoric are predicted to win and establish a coalition government. This signifies a lurch away from the centrist governments Austria has had since World War II.

Polls this week showed the Freedom Party on 25 per cent, the hardline People’s Party on 34 per cent and the centrist Social Democrats, who are the majority party in the current coalition government, slipping behind with just 27 per cent.

France and Belgium implemented a burka ban in 2011 and a similar measure is currently going through the Dutch parliament. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has previously voiced her support for a similar law in Germany, saying: "Our law takes precedence over codes of honour, tribal or family rules, and over sharia law."

Last week, the Austrian government issued posters and leaflets threatening Muslim women with fines for wearing face veils ahead of the introduction of the controversial ban.

The law also requires any immigrants to sign an “integration contract” and take part in compulsory courses that teach the German language and educate on so-called “Austrian values”.