The Swiss National Council has approved the contentious Federal Law on the Prohibition of Concealing the Face with a vote of 151-29. This law was established in response to a referendum passed in March 2021, with 51% of Swiss voters in favor of prohibiting the concealing of faces in public spaces.
The initiative, led by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, targets the act of concealing one’s face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, in a way that renders a person unrecognizable in all public and privately accessible spaces. Violators can be penalized with a fine of up to 1,000 Swiss francs. However, exceptions apply to places of worship, for health reasons, local customs, art, entertainment, and advertising, as well as allowances for demonstrations to protect freedom of speech and gathering, given public order is maintained.
The Federal Council had initially proposed integrating the ban into the Criminal Code; however, following critique, it was drafted as a separate federal law. A member of the National Council, Marianne Binder-Keller, suggested that this move primarily targets public safety rather than punishment.
This new legislation has sparked considerable debate. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights criticized the ban, calling it “deeply regrettable” and a product of a “political publicity campaign with strong xenophobic undertones”.
The law’s enforcement is ultimately subject to the cantons’ decision, and the Federal Council will determine the law’s commencement date. With this law, Switzerland joins the ranks of various European countries, including France, Belgium, and Austria, who enacted similar laws against concealment of the face in recent years.
For complete details about this law, you can refer the original article here.