Switzerland Sets Start Date for Public Face Covering Ban

Wearing face coverings in public will be outlawed in Switzerland from January 1

Switzerland will implement a ban on face coverings in public places starting January 1, 2025. This measure, often referred to as the “burqa ban,” was approved by Swiss voters in a nationwide referendum two years ago.

The Swiss Federal Council, the country’s highest executive body, officially set the ban’s effective date at a meeting on Wednesday. The government stated that individuals covering their faces in public throughout Switzerland will face fines of up to 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,141).

The ban applies to Muslim garments such as the burqa and niqab, as well as ski masks and bandannas worn by protesters.

The government clarified that the ban does not apply to airplanes, diplomatic and consular premises, or places of worship. Face coverings are also permitted for reasons related to health, safety, climatic conditions, and local customs, as well as for artistic and entertainment performances and advertising purposes.

The referendum in March 2021, titled ‘Yes to the ban on face coverings’, was initiated by the public and passed with 51.2% of Swiss voters in favor. The Swiss parliament subsequently adopted the proposal in September 2023. The Swiss People’s Party, the largest group in parliament, supported the initiative.

The Swiss government initially opposed the measure, citing concerns that it could harm tourism. The Associated Press noted that the majority of Muslim women who wear veils in Switzerland are visitors from the Persian Gulf states.

The ban has also faced criticism from Muslim associations in Switzerland.

According to the Swiss Federal Statistics Office (FSO), 5.7% of the permanent resident population aged 15 and over, which totals approximately 7.5 million people, identify as Muslim.

Bans on the burqa, a full body covering with mesh around the eyes, and the niqab, a face veil with a slit for the eyes, are already in effect in countries including France, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.