Zurich The government said Wednesday that the controversial “burqa ban”—which forbids wearing face coverings in public places—will go into force on January 1.
Launched by the same group that organized a 2009 ban on new minarets, the legislation was denounced by Muslim associations and narrowly passed in a 2021 vote in neutral Switzerland.
In a statement, the ruling Federal Council stated that it had set the ban’s beginning and that violators might be fined up to 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,144).
According to the government, faces may be covered in places of worship and other places of worship, and the restriction does not apply to aircraft or diplomatic and consular buildings.
