Burka wearers in Switzerland to be fined up to CHF1,000
Shopping in Geneva could get even more expensive
Keystone / Salvatore Di Nolfi
It will be illegal to conceal one’s face in public in Switzerland. Parliament has accepted the government’s bill implementing the so-called anti-burka initiative at federal level, including a fine of up to CHF1,000 ($1,115) for those who flout the ban.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ts
Português
pt
Usuárias de burca na Suíça serão multadas em até mil francos
After the Senate, the House of Representatives approved it on Wednesday by 151 votes to 29, with six abstentions.
The controversial “anti-burka” initiative was approved by 51.2% of voters in March 2021. It was opposed by most parties except the right-wing Swiss People’s Party.
The government’s proposal prohibits the concealment of the face in public, on pain of a fine. Eyes, nose and mouth must be visible in all public or private spaces accessible to the public. Exceptions are made for aircraft and consular or religious premises.
Exceptions for demonstrations
There are also exceptions for demonstrations, under certain conditions and if the authorities allow it. Freedom of opinion and freedom of demonstration are at stake here, said the majority in parliament.
The People’s Party tried in vain to argue for a total ban. People’s Party parliamentarian Walter Wobmann said the initiative was not just aimed at the burka but also at masked political demonstrators who smash up buildings or hooligans.
“Some people might feel safer masking themselves, for example during a demonstration about battered women or sexual abuse,” said Justice Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, calling for the need for a certain proportionality.
The left had attempted to reverse the CHF1,000 fine, proposing a maximum of CHF200.
Baume-Schneider pointed out that CHF1,000 was the maximum penalty. But there was also the possibility of a fine of CHF200 for minor offences. She was broadly supported.
This news story has been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team. At SWI swissinfo.ch we select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools such as DeepL to translate it into English. Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles. You can find them here.
If you want to know more about how we work, have a look here, and if you have feedback on this news story please write to english@swissinfo.ch.
External Content
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Almost finished… We need to confirm your email address. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you.
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
Geneva-based UN migration agency details swingeing job cuts
This content was published on
The International Organisation for Migration has confirmed massive staff reductions, which will also touch its Geneva headquarters.
Switzerland to investigate social media ban for children
This content was published on
Swiss lawmakers want to protect children and young people from the harmful effects of social media, like Tiktok and Instagram.
Forum on peace in Nagorno-Karabakh to be held in Switzerland
This content was published on
Switzerland must organise an international forum on peace in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan as soon as possible.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.