Swiss canton to vote on burqas

REFERENDUM: NEW LAW BANS COVERING OF FACES People who are unrecognisable deemed a danger to public security in St Gallen.

Asecond Swiss canton will vote tomorrow on whether to introduce a regional “burqa ban”, a controversial law that would prohibit all face-covering garments in public spaces.

St Gallen is expected to follow the example of the southern canton of Ticino, where a law was introduced two years ago which appeared to be aimed at burqas and other Muslim veils.

A text stipulating that “any person who renders themselves unrecognisable by covering their face in a public space and thus endangers public security or social and religious peace will be fined” was adopted by lawmakers in St Gallen late last year.

That law passed the regional parliament with support from the populist right and centre parties – but the issue is being put to the people after the Green Party and Young Socialists demanded a referendum. Switzerland’s government last year opposed an initiative aimed at creating a nationwide burqa ban, saying it should be up to the regions to determine if such measures are appropriate.

At national level, tomorrow the Swiss will vote on two schemes linked to agriculture and food security urging a shift to more environmentally friendly food.

The “Fair Food” and “Food Sovereignty” initiatives appear set to fail and are opposed by the canton of Bern, which warns they could send prices sky rocketing and might violate Switzerland’s international trade obligations. – AFP