Switzerland enacts nationwide face-covering ban January 1 amid controversy

January 01, 2025

By Ayinde Adeleke

Switzerland has officially implemented a nationwide ban on face coverings in public places, starting January 1.

The ban, approved by a referendum in 2021 with 51.2% of the vote, aims to prohibit the wearing of face veils, such as the burqa or niqab.

Marco Chiesa, former president of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and a proponent of the initiative, stated, “This is a clear signal against radical Islam, against masked hooligans, and for the peaceful coexistence of people in Switzerland.”

The ban also applies to hooligans at sporting events and violent demonstrators who conceal their faces.

However, tourism experts have raised concerns that the ban might deter Muslim tourists, particularly from the Near and Middle East, who traditionally wear such veils.

Switzerland is home to approximately 400,000 Muslims, but the Federal Council estimates that only a few wear face-covering veils.

The law includes penalties for violations, and its social and economic implications are likely to come under scrutiny in the months ahead.