The Swiss government has decided to implement a ban on covering the face in public places starting January 1, 2025. This decision was made following a controversial “anti-burka” initiative approved by 51.2% of Swiss voters in March 2021.
The ban will be enforced through administrative fines, with a smaller fine of CHF100 for immediate payment, or a maximum penalty of CHF1,000 for non-payment.
I wonder if this impacts trick or treaters?
An easy workaround would be a face mask
It won’t affect anyone.
Haven’t Swiss people got more important things to vote on or are these left to the Federal government to decide?
I suppose a few tourists from the middle east may decide to go shopping in London rather than Zurich, or they’ll just pay the 100 CHF fine and carry on.
From what I read, Fasching etc, so probably also Halloween, is excluded.
I used to work in Saudi, and was always fascinated on the flights back home. Once the plane was in the air, most of the women would go to the bathroom, and come back with heavy makeup and very “western” clothes.
Some would of course stay covered, but the majority would uncover the instant the rules were not legally enforced.
Asking for a friend, is the ski piste a public place?
The point is that people should have freedom of choice. Policies which are driven by public dislike of religious garb strikes me as bigoted and against those fundamental freedoms.
Imagine if Muslim countries wanted to ban visitors with visible tattoos because they’re frowned upon in their cultures, how quick would we be to cry foul?
P.S its not a burka ban, its a ban on niqabs (flimsy mouth coverings)
from the link: “… It is also permitted for artistic and entertainment performances”. I guess trick&treat is considered entertainment.
You woke me up this morning for sure! I had not realized this initiative came through!
I guess I was so convinced it wouldn’t pass that I didn’t even bother checking the results.
@Castro: So the Burka is legal? How logic is that?
As the OP shows, there was a vote on this in 2021. The government now simply implements this vote. It is pretty basic stuff.
If the ban is for lesser niqabs then presumably the more extreme Afghan style burkas would be included in that ban.
The face may also be covered in places of worship and other sacred sites. In addition, covering the face remains allowed for reasons of health, safety, weather conditions and local Swiss customs.
I expect lots of little kids to get fines on Halloween next year! (Or at least get reported).
Sports like skiing are covered by weather conditions.
I thought it was implemented long ago. All the Muslim women with covered faces I saw in touristic spots in the last few years were wearing a medical mask (normally they wear a mask in the color of their head cover so it doesn’t look that awful as on the photo above).
I don’t really follow this. If you ask me if there is something that needs to be banned in public, it is sweatpants.
TBH, the only time I’ve seen someone, allegedly a woman, with a face cover was in Geneva at the confiserie Ladurée in Rue de Mont Blanc. A tourist for sure. Stupid question: is a candy shop within a hotel a public place?
So, how this works? Only for the streets? Is a complaint from a concerned citizen required or the police can just show up and proceed to fine? Can a restaurant owner tell the police my property my rules?
Is it legal for a passenger in a car in a crowded city street wear a face covering? It’s a public space, but it’s a also inside the car, and not the driver.
Ban face masks as well!
Why? How does that affect you in any way?
Surely it would make more sense to ban smelly people and smokers? (not mutually exclusive of course).
When used correctly they stop the spread of germs and signal to others that you have the lurgy.
It does not affect me in any way, just as wearing a burka does not affect either of us.
Correctly as used in an operating theatre, not reused & kept in your pocket, placed on a Resturant table etc.
I agree. I’ve already written that this was really a non-issue.
