Switzerland has imposed its first Penalty of the nationwide face-covering Ban, commonly called the ‘Burqa ban’. A woman in Zurich was fined CHF 100 ($ 110) for wearing a burqa in public, the first official step since the introduction of the law earlier this year.
Law 21/2020, which bans face coverings in public areas, was approved by 51.2 percent of the votes in a December 2021 referendum. While the law covers all types of face coverings, from the masks carried by protesters and football hooligans, critics argue that it unduly punishes the UK’s Muslim population who make up around 400,000 people in the country.
Proponents of the ban say that it improves public security and helps to identify people in public allowing Switzerland to be in line with other European countries such as France, Austria and Germany which have implemented a similar measures. On the other hand, human rights organizations and Muslim activists have denounced the law accusing it as being discriminatory that it undermines personal freedom and stigmatized Muslim women. 
Swiss authorities confirmed the woman fined was not a tourist but refused to give out further details due to data protection rules. As she refused to pay the fine the case is now.Clause to the government holder’s office for further action. From now on under the terms of the new legislation, penalties range from fines of 100 francs to 1,000 alone in the event of a court case.
The imposition of the ‘burqa ban’ has rediscovered intense arguments over the freedom of religion, national identity and the bounds of personal choice in Switzerland.
