Switzerland bans Burqa: In Switzerland, from today i.e. from January 1, 2025, women will not be able to completely cover their faces in public places with hijab, burqa or any other means.
Under the new law, if this rule is violated, the woman may face a fine of $1144 i.e. approximately Rs 98,000. This law has come into effect from January 1, 2025.
This law came after the referendum
The law was enacted as a result of a referendum held in 2021, in which 51.21% of Swiss citizens voted in favor of banning the burqa. After this, the government passed this law, which has become effective from today. After the implementation of this law, women will not be able to cover their faces completely in public places like public transport, restaurants, shops, and public offices.
This law has been implemented in other European countries also
Before Switzerland, covering the face in public places has also been banned in European countries like Belgium, France, Denmark, Austria, Netherlands and Bulgaria. This step has been taken amid controversies related to security and culture of those countries. There was a deep debate about this in Switzerland and Muslim organizations have opposed it.
Switzerland’s “burqa ban”
In Switzerland, a ban on face coverings in public, known as the “burqa ban”, came into effect on January 1. Violating this law can result in a fine of up to 1,000 Swiss francs (about $1,144). Such laws have already been implemented in six other European countries, including Switzerland, France and Austria.
There are some exemptions in the law
There are some special exemptions in this law. For example, if it is necessary to cover the face for safety, weather or health reasons, then this can be done. Apart from this, face covering will also be allowed for art, entertainment and advertising purposes. The Swiss government has also made it clear that public order should not be threatened while following this law.
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