People Power - Swiss voters in referendum ban the burqa | Eastern NC Now

 

 

Voters across Switzerland have gone to the polls in a referendum and adopted a law that bans the burqa and other Muslim full facial coverings in public places in the country.  The coverings are still allowed at religious sites and on private property.  The referendum was pushed by the conservative Swiss Peoples Party, the country's largest party, as a measure to stop extremism.  Two Swiss cantons (provinces) already had local laws banning full facial coverings.

 

 

Other European countries with full or partial bans on Muslim full facial coverings include Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Germany.

 

Swiss voters will return to the polls in June for a referendum on stripping the government of emergency powers to lockdown the citizens to fight alleged pandemics.  Polls show it likely to pass.

 

Under the Swiss constitution, voters may propose legislation by petition and if they get enough signatures have voters decide the issue in a referendum.  If the voters approve, it becomes law, without requiring any action by government.