Keystone-SDA
The two “Mohren” inscriptions appearing on historic buildings in the town of Zurich can be hidden. The Federal Court does not enter into an appeal of the Cantonal Section of Swiss Heritage.
(Keystone-ATS) In the historic center of Zurich, two buildings carry the inscriptions “Zum Mohrenkopf” (literally “at the head of Moor”, the equivalent of “at the head of Negro” in French) and “Zum Mohretanz” (at Dance des Maures). The authorities, who judge the term “mohr” (Moor), have decided to cover it in a reversible way. The Zurich Section of Swiss Heritage opposed this measure.
In a judgment published on Wednesday, the Federal Court notes that the appellant was able to present her arguments before the cantonal authorities. His right to be heard and the guarantee of a fair procedure were thus respected. No legal basis gives the section, which is active at the cantonal level only, legitimization to act at the level of the Federal Court.
Less intrusive proposition
According to the section, it would have been better to lay panels on the buildings in order to explain in which context these names were given. Such an information measure would be less intrusive than the concealment project.
In the summer of 2000, the executive of the city of Zurich instructed a working group to make recommendations concerning historical vestiges with racist consonance in public space. For the two buildings concerned, the group proposed to cover the registrations, a proposal ratified in May 2020 by the executive.
The Swiss Heritage Section attacked this decision and obtained the case before the tribunal for construction. But the Zurich administrative court broke this decision. (judgment 1C_28/2025 of June 23, 2025)
