Switzerland narrowly voted to ban full-face coverings, including niqabs and burqas, in most public spaces.
CNN reports that the controversial referendum passed with 52.21 percent of the vote. It prohibits full face coverage in places accessible to the public, including streets, public offices, public transport, restaurants and shops.
Exceptions will be made for places of worship, sacred sites and for health and safety reasons. However, no exceptions will be made for tourists.
The referendum was criticized by religious groups, human rights groups and the federal government, reports CNN. The Swiss Federal Council, the Swiss Federal Government and the Swiss Parliament advised voters not to support the referendum.
Critics also say that since almost no one in Switzerland wears a burqa and the number of people who wear niqab is in the tens, at most, the proposal is essentially useless.
The proposal was put forward by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, and while it does not mention Islam, it was called a “burqa ban” in the Swiss media, according to CNN.
Amnesty International has spoken out against the results of the vote, saying in a statement: “Swiss voters once again approved an initiative that discriminates against a particular religious community, unnecessarily fueling division and fear.”
The public ban on the burka has been approved in several European countries, including France, Germany and the Netherlands. CNN notes that the United Nations Human Rights Committee said the measures violate the human rights of Muslim women and can result in “confinement at home”.