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The French Council of Ministers recently approved a ban on wearing the burqa Image Credit: AP

Dubai: The UAE embassy in Geneva has issued a travel advisory to residents, warning women not to wear a Burqa in some of the Swiss regions that have banned the face veil.

On its Twitter page, the diplomatic mission reminded residents to comply with the new law that was passed recently in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino.  

“On the first of July 2016, the Swiss canton of Ticino imposed a ban on the burqa. Offenders can be fined up from 100 to 1,000 Swiss francs [Dh377 to Dh3,774], as well as deportation," said Ahmed Elham Al Dhaheri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Internal Cooperation in Abu Dhabi.  

The Tweet in Arabic said: "Emirati women travelling to Switzerland should avoid wearing the burqa in that canton…the areas which enforce this ban in the canton include Lugano, Locarno, Magadino, Bellinzona, Ascona and Mendrisio."

"The fine can increase if the offender insists on wearing it,” said Al Dhaheri. 

The Swiss canton of Ticino is located in the southeast of Switzerland, and receives a regular influx of tourists who visit the lakeside city of Locarno.

According to the law, which was voted in by a 2013 referendum, burqas are forbidden in shops, restaurants, or public buildings.

Residents were also advised with a number of safety tips during their holidays, including to avoid carrying large sums of cash in their hand luggage, to carry their handbags across their chest, and not to leave bags hanging behind their chairs when sitting in coffee shops or restaurants.