Euronews – With large swathes of Europeans wearing masks to fight COVID-19, it seems a bizarre time to hold a vote on banning face coverings. “But that is exactly what is happening in Switzerland this Sunday,” Euronews report.
The country is holding one of its regular referendums on whether to outlaw both the niqabs and burqas worn by a few Muslim women in the country and the ski masks and bandannas used by protesters. Critics say the proposal to ban face coverings is an ironic throwback to a time not long ago when violent extremism was a greater concern than the global pandemic.
They say it would unfairly stigmatise Muslims who wear full face-covering burqas or niqabs.
File Photo – brochure title reads; ‘Yes to prohibition of veil’ among some information marterial of the AUNS, ‘Aktion fuer eine unabhaengige und neutrale Schweiz’ (Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland), and the SVP, Swiss People’s Party are seen during the general assembly of the AUNS, in Interlaken, Switzerland, 23 April 2016. EPA/URS FLUEELER
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