Rising Islamophobia: Switzerland proposes $1,000 fines for ‘burqa ban’ violators
In another Islamophobic move, The Switzerland’s government has sent a bill to parliament to impose fines of 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,000) for the violators of national ban on ‘burqa’.
According to the report, the cabinet has sent a proposal to fine those who violate the burqa ban, but Islam has not been mentioned directly.
One of the aims of the proposal is to prevent masked people from violent protests, but local politicians, media and activists interpreted the move as banning the burqa.
The cabinet, after consultation, recommended making the proposal a criminal offense and a fine of up to 10,000 francs.
The statement said that, “the purpose of the ban on face burqa is to ensure public safety and law and order.”
According to the report, exemption from the law has also been given in the legal draft.
The Swiss government has proposed exemptions for travel by plane, diplomatic missions and places of worship, while face coverings will remain viable under health, safety, weather conditions and local customs.
The draft has also exempted artists from this ban for the purpose of exhibiting and advertising their art.
The report said that, “if it is necessary for a citizen to wear a mask while using the right of expression and in public gathering, it will be allowed with the approval of the authorities and law and order will be ensured.”
Notably, the ban on the face veil in Switzerland was imposed last year on the proposal of a left-wing organization and a referendum was held for it, while earlier the same group had launched a campaign to ban minarets in 2009.
Proponents of the ban have described the face veil as a sign of extremism and political Islam, while the Muslim organizations condemned it, termed the voting as discriminatory and insisted on legal action.
