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Sri Lanka Bans All Face Coverings After Easter Sunday Bombings

The country's president announced the ban in a press release Sunday. It includes all forms of face coverings that could hide people's identities.
Posted at 10:10 AM, Apr 29, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-29 10:10:43-04

Sri Lanka has banned all face coverings after a series of bombings on Easter Sunday that left hundreds of people dead.

The country's president announced the ban in a press release Sunday. It includes all forms of face coverings that could hide people's identities.

The announcement didn't name any specific face coverings. But some criticized the move as targeting the niqab and the burqa, which are worn by Muslim women.

Sri Lanka is still on high alert more than a week after the deadly attacks on churches and hotels, which killed more than 250 people and injured hundreds more.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the bombings. But officials have blamed two local Islamist militant groups for orchestrating the attacks, likely with support from outside the country.

The ban on face coverings went into effect Monday.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.