BERN – Switzerland has narrowly voted in favor of banning face coverings in public, including the burka or niqab worn by Muslim women.
Official results showed the measure had passed by 51.2 percent to 48.8 percent in Sunday’s referendum.
The proposal was put forward by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) which campaigned with slogans such as “Stop extremism”.
A leading Swiss Islamic group said it was “a dark day” for Muslims.
“Today’s decision opens old wounds, further expands the principle of legal inequality, and sends a clear signal of exclusion to the Muslim minority,” the Central Council of Muslims said in a statement, adding that it would challenge the decision in court.The Swiss government had argued against the ban saying it was not up to the state to dictate what women wear.(BBC)
