(Local) Police in the Swiss city of Schaffhausen have defended their decision to fine a man who used the words “Allahu akbar” in public.
The incident in May 2018, which saw the man fined 150 Swiss francs (€132) plus 60 francs in administrative charges, came to light this week after the 22-year-old involved went public with his story.
The young man, named by Swiss media as Orhan E., said he used the Islamic phrase “Allahu akbar,” which literally means “God is [the] greatest,” to express his amazement after spotting a friend of his near Schaffhausen’s goods train depot.
While he was speaking in Turkish to that friend, he was approached by an off-duty police officer. The policewoman then fined him for causing a public nuisance because he had used the phrase “Allahu akbar” in a “loud and clear” manner.
