Second Swiss region will vote on a burqa ban after one area introduced the rule last year
- Voters in north-eastern Swiss canton of St Gallen will vote on ban this Sunday
- Law covers ‘any person who renders themselves unrecognisable’ in public space
- Also says they must ‘endanger security’, but critics warn this is not defined
A second Swiss canton is considering introducing a regional ‘burqa ban’ that will prohibit all face-covering garments in public spaces.
Voters in the north-eastern canton of St Gallen will go to the polls over the controversial proposed law this Sunday.
St Gallen is expected to follow the example of the southern canton of Ticino, where a law was introduced two years ago which appeared to be aimed at burqas and other Muslim veils.
Late last year, lawmakers in St Gallen adopted a text stating that ‘any person who renders themselves unrecognisable by covering their face in a public space, and thus endangers public security or social and religious peace will be fined’.
Voters in the north-eastern canton of St Gallen in Switzerland are going to the polls over a proposed regional ‘burqa ban’ that will prohibit all face-covering garments in public spaces (file photo)
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The law passed through the regional parliament, gaining support from the populist right and centre parties, but the Green Party and Young Socialists demanded a referendum.
It was first drafted following uproar in the canton over a girl who wore a full-face veil to school.
Fredy Fassler, a socialist in charge of security and justice in St Gallen, warned that the law is problematic as it does not define when a woman wearing a burqa constitutes a danger.
Critics also ‘worry the sanctions will be unpredictable and arbitrary’, he told daily newspaper Le Temps.
Last year, Switzerland’s government opposed an initiative aimed at creating a nationwide burqa ban, saying it should be up to the regions to determine if such measures are appropriate.
All Swiss voters will eventually cast ballots on the issue after the populist right-wing Swiss People’s Party gathered the 100,000 signatures needed to put any subject to a referendum as part of Switzerland’s direct democratic system.
Voters across the country will also vote on banning genetically modified organisms (GMO).
St Gallen is expected to follow the example of the southern canton of Ticino, where a law was introduced two years ago which appeared to be aimed at burqas and other Muslim veils (file photo)
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