NEW DELHI: ‘Burqa ban’ in Switzerland comes close on the heels of a similar move by other European counterparts such as France, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Bulgaria, etc. These nations have enacted a law making face coverings in public a punishable offense under the law. The proposal came into effect following a public referendum which trounced those opposing the move by a wafer-thin margin. While the bill is being viewed as a ban on the Islamic system of veil and burqa, the proposal aims to kill two birds with a stone – preventing violent street protesters from concealing their identity