(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/21/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a decision by Switzerland’s lower house of parliament to ban the wearing of the face veil, often called the niqab or burqa, sometimes worn by Muslim women.
Switzerland’s National Council voted 151-29 to ban the wearing of the face veil in both public spaces and private buildings accessible to the public. The ban reportedly allows for certain exceptions.
SEE: Switzerland Parliament Bans Burqa, Face Covering For Muslim Women, Violaters To Be Fined
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw said:
“This decision is clearly motivated by anti-Muslim bigotry and a desire to crack down on the religious freedom of Muslims in Switzerland. The fact that Switzerland passed a mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic indicates that their problem is not with face coverings, but with Muslim women. We urge the State Department to condemn this decision.”
He noted that CAIR recently called on the State Department to designate France a country of particular concern after the French government banned the wearing of the abaya, a long, flowing garment often worn by Muslim women, in schools.
SEE: CAIR Condemns French Ban on Abaya in Schools, Reiterates Call for State Department to Designate France as Country of Concern
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com