Switzerland started 2025 by enforcing a new law that bans face coverings, including the burqa. This law follows a vote in 2021, where 51.2% of Swiss voters supported a ban on face coverings in public. The law is part of a constitutional change that says people cannot cover their faces in public spaces, with a few exceptions like airplanes, diplomatic areas, and places of worship.
If someone breaks the law, they will have to pay a fine of CHF 100, which can be paid easily online. If they refuse to pay, the fine can go up to CHF 1,000 through regular legal procedures. Although the law does not mention any religion directly, it is seen as targeting women who wear the burqa, even though the law focuses more generally on face coverings during protests.
The Swiss People’s Party (SVP), a right-wing political group, led the campaign for the ban, saying it was needed to stop “soft extremism.” The Swiss government initially opposed the idea, saying the state shouldn’t tell people what to wear. However, after the 2021 vote, the law passed and is now in effect.
Switzerland has a small Muslim population—around 5% of the population, mostly from countries like Turkey, Bosnia, and Kosovo. The face-covering ban has caused debate, as many see it as unfairly targeting Muslim women who wear the burqa. In Switzerland, citizens often vote on important issues, which is why this law was decided by a referendum.
