Switzerland: after six months, the anti -Burqa law is especially symbolic

This will remain as one of the most emotional of the last ten years in Switzerland. Meanwhile, March 7, 2021the majority of the people and the cantons accepted the initiative “yes to the ban on hiding their face”. Therefore, Even if the text – launched by circles close to the UDC – also concerned the hosted hooligans. Meanwhile, the campaign had mainly focused on the question of the full veil and the fears aroused by a certain vision of Islam. Consequently, Reason why we were talking at the time of “antiburqa” initiative.

After four years of parliamentary work. Furthermore, the new law, which concretizes switzerland: after six months, anti the initiative, entered into force at 1^is January of this year. For example, It is now prohibited to hide your face in public places. In addition, According to La Communication from the Federal Council From last November. Consequently, “anyone who will contravene the ban will be generally punished with a fine of 1000 francs at most”, but in most cases, it is an amount of 100 francs. Furthermore, So much for theory; Because in practice, tickets are extremely rare.

Three cases in six months for Geneva

We have collected. Furthermore, data from the cantons’ police housing the five largest cities in the country. However, In Geneva, only three tickets have been recorded since the start of the year, all in town. Consequently, On the Vaud side, it’s zero for the cantonal police. Furthermore, “This answer does not take into account switzerland: after six months, anti the possible order fines that the Vaudois municipal police could have delivered. In addition, ” she said.

The Bernese police specify “that there have been practically no fines on this subject so far”. In Basel, no data is communicated, the police not distinguishing between the fines of order.

As for the canton of Zurich. its press service refuses to communicate the latest figures to us, given that a parliamentary intervention is underway. In April, the city of Zurich, however, only counted four tickets. And in all these examples, it is impossible to distinguish between hooded or fully veiled people.

Are these figures amazing? Not that much. During the voting campaign. the Federal Council already recalled that the problem of Burqa was marginal In Switzerland, and mainly concerned tourists from the Arabian Gulf. It must be said that Switzerland has experience in the matter. Ticino and Saint-Gall have been experiencing similar cantonal legislation since 2016 and 2019.

However, Saint-Gall tells us that we have inflicted any fine to date. As for Ticino, Tourist cantonthe problem seems to have resolved. This suggests a deterrent effect. “Between 2016 switzerland: after six months, anti and 2020, 60 fines were issued for concealing the face,” says the cantonal police. Among these, 32 concerned people linked to hooliganism, while 28 concerned people with a veiled face. Since 2020, the Institutions department has no longer received information from municipal police, competent in the matter. ”

The defense of Judeo-Christian values in Switzerland

Faced with this quasi-absence of cases. should it be resolved to note that this law is not worth it? Jacqueline de Quattro (PLR/VD), former state advisor in charge of security, supported the initiative. For her, the discussion should not be made in these terms. “The popular will was clear during the 2021 vote. Both the majority of the population. that of the cantons voted in favor of this initiative to preserve our Judeo-Christian values. It is now a question of respecting this popular will. and to switzerland: after six months, anti do so, it is necessary to apply the law. ”

The Vaudoise is not the only one to question how the police sanction this offense. The parliamentary intervention during treatment in the canton of Zurich is precisely linked to this theme. The two UDC elected officials who deposited it want to know how the ban on hiding the face is applied. and if some people use hygiene masks to get around it. It is indeed possible to have a covered face for health reasons.

No official assessment at the Swiss level

This question of the application of the law. we asked it at the conference of cantonal police commanders. We also asked her what she thought of the results after six months. This last boot in touch: “No statistics are available at the Swiss level. switzerland: after six months, anti Consequently, no assessment is planned on our part. ”

On the side of opponents of the anti -corn initiative, this handful of recorded cases was expected. “What these figures show is that the UDC. its allies have managed to make tons of them with an initiative which we knew from the start that it would not solve anything, reacts Jean Tschopp (PS/VD). People who wear the full veil are a tiny part of the population who lives in Switzerland. ”

Member of the Commission of Political Institutions, he continues: “Today, it is not a question of redoing the whole debate. But this case must remind us of the ability of this party to exaggerate – for electoral purposes – practically nonexistent problems to divert us from much more important questions such as health. purchasing power. ”

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