As of today, Swiss authorities are banning the wearing of clothing and wardrobe items that completely hide the face, including burqa and niqab, in public places. For violation of the ban, fines range from 100 to 1,000 Swiss francs ($110.2 to $1,102).
The population of Switzerland voted on the issue in a referendum in March 2021. Then 51.2% of survey participants supported the ban. Previously, the restriction was only in force at the regional level in the cantons of St. Gallen and Ticino.
The ban will affect clothing worn by Muslim believers, such as the niqab and burqa, as well as balaclavas worn by football fans. They are already prohibited from being worn in shops, restaurants, government offices and public transport. However, clothing that covers the face can still be worn in places of worship, at carnivals or for protection from the cold.
According to the President of Switzerland, Karin Keller-Sutter, the ban will affect only a small part of the 400,000 Muslims living in Switzerland. Of these, as the politician noted, only about 20-30 women wear the niqab.
With the introduction of the ban, Switzerland has joined the list of European countries in which similar rules are already in force. Among them are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark and the Netherlands. France was the first country to introduce a ban on wearing clothing that covers the face in 2011.