Swiss voters on Sunday voted narrowly to ban full face coverings in public places in a referendum which the media and campaigners have dubbed the "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/swiss-citizens-set-to-vote-on-controversial-burqa-ban-referendum-367361">burqa ban</a>".

Watch:

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According to official reports, 51.2 per cent voters supported the proposal which came after years of debate in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/people-in-switzerland-favour-burqa-ban-poll-shows-358747">Switzerland</a> after similar bans were imposed in other European countries.

There was a 50 per cent turnout with 1,426,992 voters were in favour of the ban and 1,359,621 against the proposal.&nbsp;

The result means nobody in the country can cover their face completely in public whether in shops or in the open across the country except in places of worship or for health and safety reasons.

The measure also outlaws covering one's face in restaurants, sports stadiums and public transport.

However, at least 150 demonstrators opposed the ban while protesting outside the Swiss parliament in Bern as the Islamic Central Council of Switzerland(ICCS) said the ban was "a great disappointment for Muslims".&nbsp;

European countries including France, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria and Denmark have banned full face coverings.

"In Switzerland, our tradition is that you show your face. That is a sign of our basic freedoms," Walter Wobmann, member of parliament and chairman of the referendum committee had said before the vote.&nbsp;

The government and Parliament had however opposed the ban as justice minister Karin Keller-Sutter said the result was not a vote against Muslims.

Swiss voters on Sunday voted narrowly to ban full face coverings in public places in a referendum which the media and campaigners have dubbed the "burqa ban". Watch: According to official reports, 51.

Swiss voters on Sunday voted narrowly to ban full face coverings in public places in a referendum which the media and campaigners have dubbed the "burqa ban". Watch: According to official reports, 51.2 per cent voters supported the proposal which came after years of debate in Switzerland after similar bans were imposed in other European countries. There was a 50 per cent turnout with 1,426,992 voters were in favour of the ban and 1,359,621 against the proposal. The result means nobody in the country can cover their face completely in public whether in shops or in the open across the country except in places of worship or for health and safety reasons. The measure also outlaws covering one's face in restaurants, sports stadiums and public transport. However, at least 150 demonstrators opposed the ban while protesting outside the Swiss parliament in Bern as the Islamic Central Council of Switzerland(ICCS) said the ban was "a great disappointment for Muslims". European countries including France, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria and Denmark have banned full face coverings. "In Switzerland, our tradition is that you show your face. That is a sign of our basic freedoms," Walter Wobmann, member of parliament and chairman of the referendum committee had said before the vote. The government and Parliament had however opposed the ban as justice minister Karin Keller-Sutter said the result was not a vote against Muslims.

Swiss voters support ban on face coverings in public

The Swiss are set to vote on whether they want to ban full facial coverings in public on March 7, when they will also vote on a range of other issues as part of the country’s direct democratic system.

The text of the proposed ban does not mention Muslim veils explicitly, stating only that “no one shall cover their face in public, nor in areas accessible to the public or in areas where services are ordinarily accessible to all”.

A similar burqa ban was imposed previously by other European nations including the Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and Denmark.

But the proposal, which has been opposed by the Swiss government, is widely seen as targeting niqabs, burqas and other face-covering veils worn by some Muslim women. 
 
Watch: China's burqa and 'abnormal' beard ban (WION Gravitas)

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinas-burqa-and-abnormal-beard-ban-wion-gravitas-2829/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The initiative proposes some exceptions to the ban, including in “places of worship” and for “health reasons”.

The main argument by the proponents of the ban appears to be security concerns and to a lesser extent Islamophobic sentiments.

The ballot on the proposed burka ban comes nearly 12 years after Swiss voters approved a ban on the construction of new minarets, in what was seen as a political upset. 
 
Watch: Denmark fines first woman for violating burqa ban

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/denmark-fines-first-woman-for-violating-burqa-ban-156987/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The grouping behind the burqa ban proposal - the “Egerkinger Komitee” that includes members of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) - was also behind the 2009 move to ban minarets, which was approved by nearly 60% of voters.

Supporters of the 2009 proposal saw the minarets as alien to Swiss traditions and values at a time of growing unease over the activities of Islamist militants in Europe and the Middle East.

Muslims make up only about 5% of Switzerland’s 8.6 million people, official statistics show.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Swiss are set to vote on whether they want to ban full facial coverings in public on March 7, when they will also vote on a range of other issues as part of the country’s direct democratic system.

The Swiss are set to vote on whether they want to ban full facial coverings in public on March 7, when they will also vote on a range of other issues as part of the country’s direct democratic system. The text of the proposed ban does not mention Muslim veils explicitly, stating only that “no one shall cover their face in public, nor in areas accessible to the public or in areas where services are ordinarily accessible to all”. A similar burqa ban was imposed previously by other European nations including the Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and Denmark. But the proposal, which has been opposed by the Swiss government, is widely seen as targeting niqabs, burqas and other face-covering veils worn by some Muslim women. Watch: China's burqa and 'abnormal' beard ban (WION Gravitas) The initiative proposes some exceptions to the ban, including in “places of worship” and for “health reasons”. The main argument by the proponents of the ban appears to be security concerns and to a lesser extent Islamophobic sentiments. The ballot on the proposed burka ban comes nearly 12 years after Swiss voters approved a ban on the construction of new minarets, in what was seen as a political upset. Watch: Denmark fines first woman for violating burqa ban The grouping behind the burqa ban proposal - the “Egerkinger Komitee” that includes members of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) - was also behind the 2009 move to ban minarets, which was approved by nearly 60% of voters. Supporters of the 2009 proposal saw the minarets as alien to Swiss traditions and values at a time of growing unease over the activities of Islamist militants in Europe and the Middle East. Muslims make up only about 5% of Switzerland’s 8.6 million people, official statistics show. (With inputs from agencies)

Swiss citizens set to vote on controversial burqa ban referendum

A clear majority of Swiss voters favour introducing a nationwide prohibition against wearing face-covering garments in public spaces, known as a "burqa ban", a poll showed Friday.

According to the Tamedia poll of 15,000 eligible voters, a full 63 per cent of those questioned said they would vote yes or were considering voting yes in an upcoming popular vote on the ban, the Tages Anzeiger daily reported.

The Swiss are set to vote on whether they want to ban face coverings in public on March 7, when they will also vote on a range of other issues as part of the country's famous direct democratic system.

The text does not mention Muslim veils explicitly, stating only that "no one shall cover their face in public, nor in areas accessible to the public or in areas where services are ordinarily accessible to all."

But the proposed ban, which has been opposed by the Swiss government, is widely seen as targeting burqas and other face-covering Muslim veils.

The initiative also makes several exceptions, including in "places of worship", and, vitally in these pandemic times, for "health reasons".&nbsp;

The Egerkingen committee which presented the initiative is heavily backed by the populist right-wing Swiss People's Party, but some left-leaning politicians have also joined the campaign in the name of protecting women's rights.

Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter announced this week that the government opposed the nationwide ban, stressing that women wearing full body-covering veils were rarely seen in&nbsp;Switzerland.

She stressed that most women seen in the country wearing such veils are tourists.

The justice minister also insisted the issue should be left up to&nbsp;Switzerland's 26 cantons.

Two cantons, Ticino and St.Gallen have already introduced such bans, while three other cantons, Zurich, Solothurn and Glarus, have rejected doing so in recent years.&nbsp;

The government and parliament are backing a counter-proposal, which would require people to reveal their faces to the authorities for identification purposes, for instance at borders or on public transport.

Fines of up to 10,000 Swiss francs ($11,300, 9,300 euros) could be given to anyone who refused, according to the counter proposal, which will enter into force if the Egerkingen initiative is rejected.

A clear majority of Swiss voters favour introducing a nationwide prohibition against wearing face-covering garments in public spaces, known as a "burqa ban", a poll showed Friday.

A clear majority of Swiss voters favour introducing a nationwide prohibition against wearing face-covering garments in public spaces, known as a "burqa ban", a poll showed Friday. According to the Tamedia poll of 15,000 eligible voters, a full 63 per cent of those questioned said they would vote yes or were considering voting yes in an upcoming popular vote on the ban, the Tages Anzeiger daily reported. The Swiss are set to vote on whether they want to ban face coverings in public on March 7, when they will also vote on a range of other issues as part of the country's famous direct democratic system. The text does not mention Muslim veils explicitly, stating only that "no one shall cover their face in public, nor in areas accessible to the public or in areas where services are ordinarily accessible to all." But the proposed ban, which has been opposed by the Swiss government, is widely seen as targeting burqas and other face-covering Muslim veils. The initiative also makes several exceptions, including in "places of worship", and, vitally in these pandemic times, for "health reasons". The Egerkingen committee which presented the initiative is heavily backed by the populist right-wing Swiss People's Party, but some left-leaning politicians have also joined the campaign in the name of protecting women's rights. Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter announced this week that the government opposed the nationwide ban, stressing that women wearing full body-covering veils were rarely seen in Switzerland. She stressed that most women seen in the country wearing such veils are tourists. The justice minister also insisted the issue should be left up to Switzerland's 26 cantons. Two cantons, Ticino and St.Gallen have already introduced such bans, while three other cantons, Zurich, Solothurn and Glarus, have rejected doing so in recent years. The government and parliament are backing a counter-proposal, which would require people to reveal their faces to the authorities for identification purposes, for instance at borders or on public transport. Fines of up to 10,000 Swiss francs ($11,300, 9,300 euros) could be given to anyone who refused, according to the counter proposal, which will enter into force if the Egerkingen initiative is rejected.

People in Switzerland favour 'burqa ban', poll shows