ZURICH, 19 January 2021,(TON): Voters reject a proposal in a planned 7 March 2021 referendum to ban full face coverings such as Burqas and Niqabs, the Swiss government recommended on Tuesday saying the move would hinder the tourism in the country. 

According to Switzerland’s democracy, a popular vote of more than 100,000 signatures is required to have a proposal to change the constitution.

Back in 2009, the Swiss voters supported the proposal to ban the construction of new minarets.

Full face coverings were already banned in regional votes by the Swiss cantons of St. Gallen and Ticino, but the Swiss government said following through with a nationwide constitutional ban was a bad idea.

The government said in a statement that very few people in Switzerland wear a full facial covering and a nationwide ban would undermine the sovereignty of the cantons, damage tourism and be unhelpful for certain groups of women.

The statement added that most women who wear full face coverings are tourists who spend a short time in the country.

Reports say that France and Denmark have also banned facial coverings, citing efforts to uphold secular values and combat discrimination against women..

Egerkinger Komitee, a group behind the burqa ban proposal includes the members from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), was also behind the new minarets ban and gained 60% approval of voters.

A counter-proposal has been made by the government to the facial covering ban that would come into force if voters reject the initial proposal on March 7. This would require women wearing a facial covering to reveal their face if necessary for identification at administrative offices or on public transport.