Switzerland bans burqa

As per the Swiss law, burqa ban came into force in Switzerland's Ticino region. A fine of over $11,000 has been enforced for those who violate the law. A Swiss woman, converted to Islam and a businessman who have been protesting for the ban were fined when the new rule came into effect.

The so-called controversial law was voted in by a referendum in 2013 now outlaws the face-covering headgear.

Two prominent Muslim-rights campaigners, Nora Illi and Rachid Nekkaz, came out in the streets of Locarno in burqas after the law was enforced.

Police stopped Illi, a convert from Zurich and Nekkaz, a French-Algerian national, and fined them over $9,980 and $230 respectively. While they both were protesting the local government officials collected the signatures for banning the burqa nationwide.

George Ghiringhelli, who proposed the law, said that the ruling world would send a message to "Islamic fundamentalists" in the country.

He stated that those who want to integrate are welcome, irrespective of their religion, but those who want to build a parallel society on our religious laws are not welcomed at all.

The imposition of the law come days after reports that two Muslim girls were not given Swiss citizenship because they refused to take swimming lessons along with the boys at their school.