Kunwar Khuldune Shahid

Are Switzerland and France really ‘Islamophobic’?

A campaign poster, in favour of the 'burqa ban', is seen in Bern, Switzerland (Getty images)

Is Switzerland ‘Islamophobic’? Critics of the country’s decision to outlaw face coverings think so. The ‘Burqa ban’, which passed into law this week as a result of a narrow vote in a referendum, applies to any form of face covering in a public gathering, unless worn for health reasons, at religious congregations, or carnivals. The legislation is not, at least directly, aimed at Muslims. And, what’s more, very few Swiss Muslims wear a burqa or niqab: almost no-one in Switzerland wears a burka and only around 30 women wear the niqab, according to research by the University of Lucerne. But the condemnation has nonetheless been swift. It was ‘a dark day’ for Muslims, the Central Council of Muslims in Switzerland has said.

The Swiss vote came a fortnight or so after France passed its ‘anti-separatism bill’ into law, seeking to ‘reinforce republican principles’. The law upholds mandatory schooling, cracks down on hate speech and seeks to monitor where places of worship and religious institutions get their cash. It is presented by its supporters as a reaffirmation of the centuries-old laïcité – set out in in a 1905 law to separate the church and the state – in public spheres. Yet for others, France’s move – just like the ban in Switzerland – is seen as ‘Islamophobic’.

When Switzerland and France impose new laws, the condemnation is swift

Is this right? As with Switzerland’s law, France’s new measures are not aimed directly at any particular group. What’s more, the new legislation also looks strikingly similar to measures already in place in some Muslim-majority states.

At least ten such countries have partial or complete bans on face veils or headscarves, including Chad, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Bosnia and Kosovo

France is also far from alone in implementing tough counter-terror measures. Similar rules have been imposed in Bangladesh, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Indonesia. Pakistan also officially announced reforms

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