Full-face veils will soon be prohibited in public spaces in Austria, the ruling coalition has agreed. The rule, which will ban face coverings in such places as courts and schools, was given a mere two lines of text in the reform package in which it was included: "We are committed to an open society, which also presupposes open communication. A full-face veil in public places stands in its way and will therefore be banned." The government is also considering another ban on state employees wearing headscarves and other religious symbols.