Switzerland bans the wearing of burqas or niqabs in public, national referendum shows

51.2% of Swiss voters are in favour of banning full face veils in public spaces such as shops and restaurants, after Sunday's referendum.

The ban would not stop women wearing facial veils in indoor places of worship, coverings necessary for customary occasions such as a carnival, nor face coverings/masks needed to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Despite the country's government opposing the referendum's proposal, Switzerland's referendum follows similar covering bans in France and Austria.

While supporters of the ban insist that the referendum's purpose was to stop violent demonstrators from covering their faces, advertisements supporting the ban made several references to women in Islam.

The association behind the referendum, the Egerkingen Committee, has reported links to populist rightwing political parties in Switzerland.

This comes as the Muslim community within the country, which makes up around 5% of the population, has condemned the referendum result.

Under the new law, it is thought that Muslim communities and Muslim women would be stigmatised and marginalised.