%20(3)%20(1)%20(4)%20(2)%20(3)%20(2)%20(2)%20(1)%20(1%20(17)%20(1)%20(1)%20(1)%20(1)%20(1).jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
A social media post claiming that Switzerland has banned hijab and derecognised Islam as an official religion has gone viral.
The post reads, “BREAKING: Switzerland banned Hijab and no longer recognizes Islam as an official religion via referendum. (sic)”
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. We found that Switzerland has put a ban on the burqa but not the hijab. It has also not banned Islam.
Switzerland has not banned the hijab
We searched with appropriate keywords and found a report by AP News published on September 21, 2023.
The report suggested that the lower house of Switzerland’s Parliament had voted to ban face coverings such as burqas. It further suggested that the measure prohibited covering the nose, mouth and eyes in public spaces and in private buildings accessible to the public.
Another report by The Times of India on September 21, 2023, suggested that a fine of 1000 Swiss francs would be imposed on those violating the law.
The hijab and the burqa are different types of clothing. While the burqa covers the whole face and body leaving just the eye slit open, the hijab only covers the head. Hence, we can say that Switzerland has banned the burqa and not the hijab.
Switzerland has not derecognised Islam
As per the government website of Switzerland, freedom of religion is one of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
The website stated that though the majority of Switzerland’s population identifies as Christian, it is also home to members of various other religious communities, including Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and followers of other faiths.
It further stated that most of the roughly 6 per cent of Muslims in Switzerland originate from the Balkans and Turkey, predominantly residing in larger cities. We also found no media report suggesting that Islam has been derecognised as an official religion in the country.
Hence, we can ascertain that the social media claims regarding hijab and the practice of Islam in Switzerland are false.
