Excerpt:
The decision by voters in the Swiss canton of Ticino to outlaw veils or clothing that hides the face in public places is seen as a test case for Switzerland. But as Ticino's parliament prepares to discuss the ban, concerns have been raised about how to enforce it and its effects on tourism.
The initiative was accepted by 65.4% of Ticino citizens in September 2013 and was the first time that a ban of this kind, which mainly concerns the wearing of the burka and niqab, had been decided by a popular vote.
It has already inspired an initiative for a Switzerland-wide ban, launched at the end of September this year.