Swiss government wants to ban swastika in crackdown on extremist symbols
Federal Council wants to ban Nazi symbols in public
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Listening: Swiss government wants to ban swastika in crackdown on extremist symbols
The Federal Council wants to ban the Nazis’ swastika emblem in public as well as other symbols associated with the Third Reich. Anyone who flouted the law would be fined CHF200 ($225) in future.
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Bundesrat will Nazisymbole in der Öffentlichkeit verbieten
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A ban on Nazi symbols is particularly urgent, the Federal Council said on Friday. Anti-Semitic incidents had increased significantly in recent months. The government has submitted a draft for a special law for consultation that ends on March 31.
Switzerland has a certain tolerance when it comes to Nazi symbols and gestures. Nazi salutes and swastikas are banned only when used for propaganda purposes. Political efforts to scrap this distinction have been ongoing since 2003.
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Swiss House of Representatives urges ban on extremist and racist symbols
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The Swiss parliament wants to ban extremist symbols. The ban primarily targets Nazi symbols, but it extends beyond that.
The Federal Council now says it wants to ban swastikas, Hitler salutes and SS insignia, and codes such as “18” and “88” as well as certain gestures, objects and greetings. When such symbols are punishable depends on the context. The Federal Council is planning exemptions for educational, artistic and journalistic purposes.
Translated from German by DeepL/sb
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