On March 7, Switzerland goes to the polls to vote on banning the niqab in all public places, in what is largely seen as a fresh attempt to stoke Islamophobic sentiments in the country.
The proposed law does not mention the facial coverings worn by Muslim women in specific but is seen to target them.
The proposed law mandates that “no one shall cover their face in public” and that “no one is permitted to force someone to cover their face based on their gender”, with exceptions such as for health reasons and traditions like a carnival.
Polls in local media outlets suggest that voters will approve the proposed law.
Under Switzerland’s system of direct democracy, any proposal to change the constitution goes to a popular vote if supporters raise more than 100,000 signatures.
Interestingly, no one in Switzerland wears a burqa and only around 30 women wear the niqab, the University of Lucerne estimates.
The call for a ban on niqab comes at the backdrop of banning the construction of minarets in 2009.
Muslims make up 5.2% of the Swiss population of 8.6 million people, with most having their roots in Turkey, Bosnia and Kosovo.
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Ghazala Ahmad is the Delhi Correspondent for The Cognate.
