(AP) The U.N. human rights office expressed dismay on Tuesday that Switzerland is set to join a few other countries where “actively discriminating against Muslim women” is legal, after Swiss voters approved a ban on face coverings like burqas and niqabs that some Muslim women wear.
In a referendum on Sunday, Swiss voters narrowly approved a measure to ban the wearing of full-face-covering burqas and niqabs, which have slits for the eyes, in addition to ski masks and bandannas worn by some protesters.
The move will outlaw covering one’s face in public places, with some exceptions — including for health reasons like wearing masks to help prevent the spread [of] COVID-19. Authorities now have two years to draw up detailed legislation.
