Tunisia bans women from wearing niqab in govt offices

Tunis: Tunisia on Friday banned women from wearing niqab in government offices for security reasons.

The decision to ban niqab, face covering for Muslim women, was taken by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed.

A statement issued by his office said the prime minister signed a government circular “banning access to public administrations and institutions to anyone with their face covered… for security reasons”.

The ban on the niqab, which covers the entire face apart from the eyes, comes at a time of heightened security following a June 27 double suicide bombing in Tunis that left two dead and seven wounded.

The interior minister instructed police in February 2014 to step up supervision of the wearing of the niqab as part of anti-terrorism measures, to prevent its use as disguise or to escape justice.