Burqas are banned in Switzerland
2 January 2025 09:51
Since January 1, Switzerland has banned the wearing of burqas in public. The relevant provision of the law was spelled out as a “ban on covering the face”, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports with reference to swissinfo.ch.
Violations will be dealt with through an administrative fine procedure to minimize bureaucracy. The administrative fine will be CHF 100 and can be paid on the spot. However, those who refuse to pay the administrative fine will be subject to the normal procedure, which provides for a maximum fine of CHF 1000.
The ban on face covering applies to public spaces, but does not apply to airplanes, diplomatic and consular posts. Faces may also be covered in places of worship and other sacred places. In addition, it is permitted to cover your face for health, safety, weather conditions and local Swiss customs. It is also permitted during artistic and entertainment performances and for advertising purposes.
In exceptional cases, it may be permitted to cover your face in public places if it is necessary for the exercise of freedom of expression and assembly, provided that the responsible authority has approved it in advance and public order and safety are not endangered.
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Burqa in Europe
The burqa is a traditional outer garment worn by women in Central Asia and the Middle East that takes the form of a robe with long pseudo-sleeves and a hair net to cover the face. The term comes from the Persian word “faraj,” which originally meant a men’s wide outer garment with long sleeves. In the sixteenth century, both men and women wore such robes, and the culture of wearing burqas among the peoples of Central Asia became most widespread in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
In recent years, the issue of wearing the burqa has become the subject of active political debate in many European countries. For example, in France, in 2004, the wearing of the hijab in public schools was banned, and former President Nicolas Sarkozy opposed the wearing of the burqa, believing that it restricts women’s dignity and separates women from public life.
A ban on the wearing of burqas and similar face-covering clothing has already been introduced in several European countries. In particular, Belgium has banned the wearing of burqas and niqabs since 2011 under the threat of fines and even imprisonment, and Denmark has had a similar ban since 2018 with fines of up to 10 thousand kroner (about $1400) for systematic violations. In Switzerland, the burqa has been banned in the canton of Ticino since 2013.
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