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The Swiss public have narrowly voted in a referendum in favour of banning face coverings in public, including the burka or niqab worn by Muslim women.

Official results showed the measure passed by 51.2% to 48.8%.

The government opposed the proposal which was put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) which used campaign posters of an angry looking woman wearing the niqab with slogans such as "Stop Extremism".

Ferah Ulucay, who was born and grew up in Switzerland, is secretary general of the Swiss Central Islamic Council. She says women who wear the niqab already face abuse.

"When you go out (wearing a) niqab, people look at you very angry, you get attraction because it's not common in Switzerland.... Islamophobia is real, Islamophobia is dangerous... and they have to take now the right actions to protect Muslims."

(Photo: A campaign poster put up by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP). Credit: EPA)