Fines of CHF 1,000 for illegal face covering

Thursday, 13 October 2022 06:30

The Federal Council has decided a maximum fine for wearing a face covering will be CHF 1,000.

A ban on face covering was voted on in March last year as part of the anti-burqa initiative launched by the Swiss People’s Party.

An initial draft of the law suggested a maximum fine of CHF 10,000, but the government considered that extreme.

There will be some exceptions. Buildings used for diplomatic purposes will be exempt, as will places of worship.

It won’t apply to motorcycle helmets, surgical masks or carnival costumes.

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