Switzerland officially implemented its controversial “burqa ban” on January 1, 2025. The burqa ban, which prohibits facial coverings in public places, imposes fines of up to CHF 1,000 (USD 1,143) for violation, according to Swiss media.
This move follows a 2021 national referendum where 51% of voters supported the ban. Exceptions to the law allow facial coverings for security, weather, health reasons, or artistic purposes. With this decision, Switzerland joins European countries like France, Austria, and Denmark in enforcing such restrictions.
Critics argue the measure disproportionately targets Muslim women wearing burqas or niqabs, exacerbating stigmatization. Proponents, however, assert the ban upholds values of openness and public safety. Swiss officials framed the legislation as a step toward greater societal transparency.
The Central Council of Muslims in Switzerland called the law “a dark day,” accusing it of promoting exclusion and inequality. Human rights group Amnesty International also condemned the ban, maintaining that it infringes on women’s rights, including freedom of speech and religion.
The University of Lucerne estimates that before the ban nearly no one in Switzerland wears a burqa, and only about 30 women wear niqabs. Muslims comprise about 5% of the country’s population of 8.6 million, mostly originating from Türkiye, Bosnia, and Kosovo.