A prohibition on facial coverings, such as the burqas used by certain Muslim women, was given final legislative assent by the lower chamber of the swiss parliament on Wednesday.
 

The law was already authorized by the upper house and was supported by the National Council with a vote of 151-29. The right-wing, populist swiss People's party successfully pushed it through, dismissing the reservations of the Greens and centrists with ease.
 

The action comes after a national referendum held in switzerland two years ago, in which the prohibition on burqas, ski masks, bandannas, and niqabs—which have eye slits—was barely passed by voters.

Parliament solidified the prohibition into federal law with the lower house vote and imposed a fine of up to 1,000 francs (about $1,100) on offenders.
 
Though there are few exceptions, the law forbids concealing one's lips, nose, or eyes in both public and private locations that are open to the public.
 
Burqas, which are most recognized for being used in Afghanistan, are complete facial coverings that are rarely worn by women in Switzerland. Similar legislation already exists in two swiss cantons: northern St. Gallen and southern Ticino. Switzerland's national legislation will align it with other nations that have implemented comparable policies, such belgium and France.
 


 
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SIBY JEYYA

09/10/2024 12:17 PM