Switzerland Parliament officially bans burqa two years after referendum

The lower house of Switzerland’s Parliament has officially passed the legislation that mandates the banning of face coverings, including the burqa worn by some Muslim women. The ruling comes nearly two years after the country passed a referendum on banning face coverings.

The legislation, which was passed on September 20, 2023, received a vote of 151-29 and had the support of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, despite reservations expressed by centrists and the Greens. The new law imposes fines of up to 1000 francs ($1,100) on violators.

This ruling comes as a significant surprise since Switzerland is a democratic country, and there haven't been calls to ban the burqa or hijab as such. However, similar to other European nations that have enacted laws to ban face coverings, the Swiss Parliament has also joined the queue. With this ban becoming law, Switzerland has joined the ranks of countries like the Netherlands, France, and Belgium.

Why?

• The call to ban the hijab and burqa worn by Muslim women had been ongoing in Switzerland for quite some time and gained momentum after the referendum passed with a slim majority of 51% in favor of it in 2021.

• In fact, in Switzerland, nearly half of the population views Islam as a threat. According to a study published by the Center of Islamic Studies in Zurich, 56% of the Swiss population believes Islam is a peaceful religion, while 46% see it as a threat.

• Switzerland is home to about 5.4% Muslims, with the majority of them having come to the country between 1960 and 2000.

• The animosity against minorities increased significantly after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in the US. Since then, religion has become a major issue in the Swiss country. “Before 9/11, it was nationality that people focused on, but afterward, it became religion,” said Onder Gune, spokesperson for the Swiss Federation of Islamic Umbrella Organization.

Muslim organisations react

• The campaign faced significant criticism from Muslim groups during the referendum exercise. Ines El-Sheikh, a spokesperson for the Purple Headscarves, a Muslim women’s group, told AFP news agency that “there were only 30 women in burqas in Switzerland.”

• Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Islamic Central Council pointed out that the vote reflected the spread of anti-Muslim hate in the country.

• Though the bill doesn't explicitly mention burqas or hijabs, it includes all face coverings, including the religious garments Muslim women wear in public, making it seen as an anti-Muslim law.

Switzerland follows France

• France was one of the first countries to officially ban the burqa in 2010. In 2004, the country had banned headscarves for schoolgirls. Initially, the ban targeted full face coverings, which Muslim women commonly wear.

• However, the hijab, which is partially different from the burqa, was not banned, although there was resistance against it.

• In April 2021, the French parliament passed a bill to ban the hijab for girls under the age of 18. Although this has not yet become law, it faced significant resistance from Muslims.

• France, with about a 5 million Muslim population, still advocates for bans on clothing worn by Muslim women.