Government finalises plan to counter burka ban proposal
Regions with many visitors from Arab countries would bear the brunt of a nationwide face-covering ban in Switzerland.
Keystone/Salvatore Di Nolfi
The Swiss government has presented its plans for a legal amendment to prevent a nationwide ban on face-covering headgear, proposed by a rightwing people’s initiative.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/urs
Under the proposal, a person must show his or her face for identity checks by customs, transport, immigration and social security authorities.
However, the government has reaffirmed its opposition to a people’s initiative aimed at a nationwide ban on wearing a burka or niqab, as well as other forms of facial coverings.
In a statement published on Friday, the government reiterates it is up to the cantonal authorities to legislate on the issue, notably regions which attract tourists from Muslim countries.
In response to negative feedback from parties, cantons, organisations and institutions, the government has now dropped a proposed clause which would punish people who force another person to wear a burka or niqab.
The government said such coercion was not tolerable but existing laws already allowed legal action.
Some women also choose to wear a burka or a niqab voluntarily, the statement adds.
Parliament is still to discuss the initiative and the government’s counter-proposals before a date is set for a nationwide vote.
More
More
Three-quarters of Swiss back a burka ban
This content was published on
A nationwide ban on face-coverings – a de facto burka ban – would currently get the thumbs-up from 76% of Swiss voters.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
Swiss to reduce administrative burden on farms from 2026
This content was published on
From 2026, the number of inspections of farms is to be reduced, without any loss of quality, said economics minister Guy Parmelin.
Swiss insurance boss proposes Singapore-style healthcare system
This content was published on
CEO of Swiss health insurer Sanitas has said that healthcare costs could be reduced if Switzerland were to follow the Singapore model.
Swiss minister talks crime and security in visit to the Netherlands
This content was published on
Swiss justice minister Beat Jans spent two days in the Netherlands discussing security, police cooperation and justice with international bodies.
Study finds more heavy metal detected in Swiss grassland
This content was published on
Copper and zinc can be expected to accumulate in the soil, particularly if farmyard manure is used for several years and is greater than the amount of nutrients absorbed by the grass. This was announced by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) on Friday. The findings are based on the results of the seventh National Soil Monitoring of Switzerland (Nabo).
Lilo Baur wins Swiss Grand Prix for performing arts
This content was published on
The Swiss actress and theatre director Lilo Baur has received this year's Swiss Grand Prix for Performing Arts, also known as the Hans Reinhart Ring.
Court rules al-Qaeda supporter can stay in Switzerland
This content was published on
A Kurdish supporter of the Islamist terrorist network al-Qaeda can stay in Switzerland, the Federal Administrative Court has ruled. It has withdrawn the annulment of the man’s provisional admission.
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has closed criminal proceedings relating to the Swiss owners affected by the Volkswagen “Dieselgate” emissions scandal.
This content was published on
The employment outlook in Switzerland will remain stable towards the end of 2024, according to the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich.
Swiss woman accuses Donald Trump of sexual assault
This content was published on
A former Miss Switzerland candidate has accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in New York in 1993. The US Republican candidate’s campaign team has denied the accusations.
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.
Read more
More
Applying the ‘burka ban’ will not be easy
This content was published on
The initiative was accepted by 65.4% of Ticino citizens in September 2013 and was the first time that a ban of this kind, which mainly concerns the wearing of the burka and niqab, had been decided by a popular vote. It has already inspired an initiative for a Switzerland-wide ban, launched at the end of…
This content was published on
swissinfo.ch readers weigh in on whether direct democracy leads to a majority of society oppressing religious minorities.
This content was published on
More and more tourists from Arab countries, especially the Gulf, are visiting Switzerland, above all Geneva. These are the tourists who spend the most in Switzerland, on average CHF500 ($515) a day. Owing to their regular presence, their large number and their preference for luxury hotels, where they stay for longer than other guests, tourists…
Activist says he’ll pay fines of Muslim women in St Gallen
This content was published on
Rachid Nekkaz has said he will pay the fines that burka-wearing Muslims incur for breaking the canton’s recent ban on facial coverings in public.
Swiss parliament will not enforce handshakes in school
This content was published on
The Swiss parliament has rejected a motion demanding that students in Swiss schools be required to shake their teacher’s hand, regardless of faith.
This content was published on
The Muslim population in Europe will continue to grow over the next several decades even if immigration to the continent were halted.
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.