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The burqa initiative must be implemented with its own federal law – at least that is what the responsible committee of the Council of States wants. She approved the corresponding proposal from the Bundesrat without changes, the parliamentary services announced on Friday. The decision was therefore taken with 9 votes in favor and 1 against.
At its spring session, the Council of States opposed its State Political Commission’s (SPK-S) motion against the federal law banning face coverings—by 27 votes to 15 with one abstention. A minority wanted to leave the legal implementation of the ban on face coverings to the cantons.
Fines up to CHF 1,000
Under the planned federal law, violating the ban on covering your face is punishable by up to one thousand francs. The law provides for exceptions. Face coverings should remain allowed in places of worship, at carnivals and for health reasons.
According to the report, the main discussion in the committee was whether covering the face should be allowed for the exercise of the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and assembly, particularly during demonstrations. The draft of the Bundesrat provides that the responsible authorities can issue a face covering permit in such cases. The committee finally agreed.
The Bundesrat wanted to give instructions to the cantons
In the referendum campaign on the burqa initiative, the question was already raised at which state level the referendum should be carried out. The Federal Council initially saw the cantons as responsible. They did ask for a nationwide settlement. This is because it is important to avoid a legal patchwork.
According to the federal government, 15 cantons already have a ban on masks. These are aimed at hooligans or violent demonstrators, for example. Even before the national vote in 2021, the cantons of Ticino and St. Gallen issued a ban on coverings in line with the burqa initiative.
(SDA)
Source:Blick
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