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Austrian police fine Algerian activist over face cover ban

VIENNA (AP) - Austrian police have fined an Algerian millionaire activist who opposes European laws banning full face coverings after he showed up in front of the office of a government minister wearing an orange mask and a black suit festooned with 100 euro bills.

Rachid Nekkaz appeared with a large photo of Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz around his neck. Kurz heads the center-right People's Party heading into Oct. 15 general elections and is a key supporter of the law.

Nekkaz has been in the news for paying fines imposed by police in European Union nations with such bans, which are generally directed against full-face veils worn by some ultra-conservative Muslim women. The law is popularly known as the "Burqa Ban" in Austria.

Police say Nekkaz was fined 50 euros (nearly $60) Monday.

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