Switzerland held a referendum on March 7 to vote on whether to ban the wearing of burqas in public places that cover the entire face. The vote was 51.21 percent in favor of banning the burqa in public. The proposal by the right-wing populist ruling Swiss People’s Party was supported by women and some secular leftist voters.
Polls show a slight majority in favor of a burqa ban, which has been debated in Switzerland for years before the referendum, after similar bans were passed in other European countries and some predominantly Muslim countries.
Even though the referendum, which “favors a ban on full face coverings,” did not mention the burqa, which covers the entire face, or the niqab, which reveals only the eyes, the focus of the issue is unquestionable.
“No Radical Islam!” and “No Extremism!” can be found in Swiss cities. and “No extremism!” posters in Swiss cities.
Posters from the opposition camp say no to the absurd, useless, Islamophobic “anti-burqa” law.
The new law bans the burqa, a full-body covering required for women in some Islamic countries, from being worn in public places if it is deemed a threat to security or “religious and social harmony.
There are 26 cantons in the Swiss Confederation, and nearly ten have issued burqa bans over the past 20 years. The cantons of Basel (1990), Zurich (1995), Bern (1999), Lucerne (2004), Thurgau (2004), Solothurn (2006), and St. Gallen (2009) all have laws against wearing the burka.
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