Switzerland - January 2025

On 1 January, legislation entered into force imposing a fine of up to CHF 1,000 for covering one’s face in public places other than places of worship. The law provides exceptions for artistic, health, and other reasons, but not for religious reasons. In a 2021 referendum, 51.2 per cent of voters supported a public initiative to ban face coverings. The public initiative was spearheaded by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party and led to the introduction of a new article to the constitution that prohibits face coverings, and the drafting of the Federal Act on the Prohibition of Face Coverings which entered into force in January. In 2021, the Islamic Central Council in Switzerland (IZR) commented that the decision expands legal inequality and sends a signal of exclusion to the Muslim minority. Although Muslims make up approximately 5.7 per cent of the Swiss population, the law impacts only a small number of people, as very few wear burkas or niqabs, according to a 2020 study by the University of Lucerne.  

Sources: NPR, Federal Statistical Office, Islamic Central Council (IZR) (1), Islamic Central Council (IZR) (2), University of Lucerne, Fedlex