Masked football fans bear brunt of Swiss 'burka ban'

Most people fined under Zurich’s face-covering ban are masked football fans rather than women wearing burkas or niqabs. Swiss voters approved the so-called 'burka ban' in 2021, introducing clothing regulations into the federal constitution for the first time. The law came into force on January 1, 2025. It prohibits face coverings in public spaces, including burqas and niqabs, as well as masks, scarves and balaclavas worn at demonstrations and sporting events. In practice, Zurich police have…