(Image source: Jeremy Piper/The Australian)

BY MEGAN NOE

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

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A proposed law has sparked controversy in Australia, where Muslim women may soon be forced to lift their veil-- or face time behind bars.

Proposed by the government of New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, the law would require women to remove their veils and show their faces to police on request. Failure to comply could result in a year’s jail time and a $5,500 fine.

Ten News adds some context, explaining -- the law comes in response to a controversial legal case.

“The move follows the acquittal of an Islamic woman who filed a false complaint of racism against a police officer who had requested she remove her headdress. A six-month sentence for filing the complaint was quashed on appeal because the person’s identity could not be confirmed.”

That’s why New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell tells Australia’s The Daily Telegraph-- its an issue of security.

"’I don't care whether a person is wearing a motorcycle helmet, a burqa, niqab, face veil or anything else - the police should be allowed to require those people to make their identification clear.’”

But WNBC reports others say-- the proposal is culturally insensitive.

“What has civil liberties groups up in arms is that a woman could be forced to uncover her head or risk prison, even if she’s pulled over for a routine traffic stop. Critics say the legislation is a way for police to intimidate Australia’s growing population of Muslim immigrants, and that it sends a message-- Muslims are not welcome there.

CNN says the law highlights growing tensions in predominantly white, Christian Australia.

“The thing that’s been happening here is that Australia has been relaxing its immigration laws, so you’ve had this huge influx of Muslims that have come into Australia and it’s led to all these cultural clashes. What we’re talking about here is Australia has a population of something like 23 million people, about 400,000 are Muslim, and this would only affect about 2,000 women in Australia who wear the veil.”

Despite outrage by civil liberties groups, The Australian says many Muslim groups remain moderate on the issue.

“Muslim organisations such as the Federation of Islamic Councils of Australia say they accept a balance must be struck between an Islamic woman's right to wear a face covering and situations of potential criminality where identity may be at issue.”

The state parliament will vote on the bill in August.

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