Switzerland Votes to Ban Religious Facial Coverings in Public Spaces

TW: This article briefly discusses Islamophobia.

Voters in Switzerland have cast their ballots in favour of banning women from wearing the burqa or niqab in public places.

Switzerland has voted in favour of banning women from wearing the burqa or niqab in public spaces. The referendum, which took place on 7th March, saw 51.2% of voters supporting the proposal, with a turnout of 50.8%.

Switzerland follows France, Belgium, and Austria, and will become the next European country to implement the so-called “burqa ban”.

Critics have described the move as Islamophobic, sexist and a violation of the rights to freedom of religion and expression.

The ban prevents the wearing of religious garments in public spaces such as restaurants, cinemas, shops, public transport and on the street. They will still be permitted to be worn inside places of worship and for “native customs”.

“‘practically no one’ in Switzerland wears the burqa, with an estimated 30 women out of a population of 8.6 million wearing the niqab”

Supporters of the new law argue that it is also intended to also prevent violent street protesters and football hooligans from wearing masks and that the law does not make specific reference to religious garments.

However, the religious aspect has become the central issue of the vote and those in favour of the new law campaigned on an anti-Islam platform. Face coverings worn for health reasons will be exempt from the new law, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Muslim groups have condemned the result, arguing that the move will further stigmatise and marginalise members of the community, while also infringing on human rights.

The Central Council of Muslims in Switzerland said that the move “sends a clear signal of exclusion to the Muslim minority”, promising legal challenges to the new law and pledging to fundraise for women who are fined for continuing to wear the burqa or niqab.

The Swiss government also opposed the new law, urging people to vote against it.

“The veiling ban is not a measure for women’s liberation, but a dangerous symbolic policy that violates freedom of expression and religion.”

Research from the University of Lucerne found that “practically no one” in Switzerland wears the burqa, with an estimated 30 women out of a population of 8.6 million wearing the niqab.

Following the result, human rights charity Amnesty International said, “The veiling ban is not a measure for women’s liberation, but a dangerous symbolic policy that violates freedom of expression and religion.”

Saskia Harper

@saskharp

Featured image courtesy of John Crozier.  from Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.