Harun Nasrullah
Switzerland will enforce fines of up to £900 for wearing a niqab in public starting next year, the government announced on November 1.
The nationwide “burqa ban,” approved by a 2021 referendum, will apply in all cantons beginning January 1. Initially implemented in St. Gallen and Ticino after regional votes, the ban was proposed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party and has faced strong opposition from Muslim groups.
Those who violate the ban will face fines of up to 1,000 Swiss francs .The ban excludes airports, diplomatic premises, places of worship, and sacred sites. Exemptions are also made for health, safety, cultural customs, and certain weather conditions.
Facial coverings are permitted for artistic or advertising purposes and for exercising freedom of expression or assembly, with prior approval. Minor breaches incur a 100 franc administrative fine, while refusal to pay can lead to the maximum fine of 1,000 francs.
Muslim groups have condemned the measure as discriminatory. The Central Council of Muslims in Switzerland plans legal challenges and a fundraising campaign to support women penalised under the new law.
Following the 2021 referendum, a spokesperson stated, “This decision opens old wounds, expands legal inequality, and sends a clear signal of exclusion to the Muslim minority.”
The Federation of Islamic Organisations in Switzerland also criticised the ban, calling it a step back rather than a liberation for women. Several European countries, including France, Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria, have similar bans. Muslims make up about 5% of Switzerland’s population, primarily from Turkey, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
