Switzerland decided that safety should have an open face
The largest number of supporters of the new measure was in the French-speaking canton of Jura (60.7%) and the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino (60.5%). At the same time, as "Russkaya Germaniya" notes, in German-speaking Basel, less than half of referendum participants supported the new ban, while a majority (59.4%) voted against it.
The ban on covering one's face in public places, for example, in transport and on city streets, applies not only to Muslim paranjas and niqabs, but also to bandanas and balaclavas. And although the restrictions do not apply exclusively to Muslims, many critics of the new rules see them as discrimination and call them nothing less than a ban on wearing the paranja.
The initiators of the ban emphasize that it is intended to increase the level of security in the country, and will also help women who are forced by traditions to cover their faces to feel freer.
"In Switzerland, our tradition is to show our face. This is a sign of our fundamental freedoms," said Walter Wobmann, chairman of the referendum committee and a member of parliament from the Swiss People's Party, before the vote. In addition, Walter Wobmann considers face-covering headgear a symbol of "extreme political Islam, which is becoming increasingly visible in Europe and has no place in Switzerland."
At the same time, opponents of the initiative say that the ban on wearing the paranja may result not in freedom, but on the contrary, in depriving many Muslim women of the right and opportunity to leave their homes and actively participate in public life.
A representative of the Swiss "Forum for Progressive Islam," Emra Erken, supported the choice of the majority of referendum participants, directly stating that he was satisfied with the voting results and that "clear boundaries have been set for political Islamism."
The ban on face covering will apply to all publicly accessible streets and squares in Switzerland, public transport, offices, cafes and restaurants, shops, sports arenas, and other public places. Exceptions are not allowed even for tourists. Wearing paranjas, niqabs, burqas, and other similar face-covering items will now only be permitted in mosques. It is also allowed to cover one's face for medical reasons.
The new rules could significantly worsen Switzerland's relations with Muslims, which were already quite tense since the ban on the construction of any new minarets in 2009.
Switzerland is not the first or only European country to introduce such restrictions. Similar decisions have previously been made in many European countries. For example, in France, a ban on any face-covering clothing in public places was introduced as early as July 2010. In the Netherlands, since 2017, it has been prohibited to wear a paranja or niqab on public transport, in schools and hospitals, and in government buildings.
Since August 2018, it has been forbidden to appear with a covered face in Denmark, with helmets and fake beards also falling under the ban. Similar restrictions apply in other countries, such as Austria, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Bulgaria.