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The Swiss voted Sunday narrowly in favor of banning face coverings in public, including the burka or niqab worn by Muslim women, following a controversial referendum.
Axar.az\ reports that the national referendum dubbed the "burka ban," launched in 2016 by a right-leaning initiative committee, was accepted by 51.2% of those who cast ballots with a participation of 51.4% of voters.
Sunday's referendum was put forward by a group associated with the right-wing Swiss People's Party, which campaigned with slogans such as "Stop extremism" and in some areas with posters of Muslim women in veils.
"It's a defeat for the government and majority of parliament, who opposed the ban on the grounds that it was unnecessary – both because of the low number of niqab-wearers in the country and because the cantons can legislate on such issues themselves," Swissinfo, the website of the national broadcaster, commented.
Date
2021.03.08 / 09:31
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Author
Axar.az
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