A 40-year-old woman from Kosovo has been fined in Bern, Switzerland, for wearing a niqab—a face-covering veil that leaves only the eyes visible—while shopping in a supermarket. The incident occurred on January 6, 2025, shortly after Switzerland officially enforced its national face covering ban.
According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Canton of Bern, the woman violated the newly implemented law prohibiting full-face coverings in public spaces. Authorities stated that she either knew, or should have known, about the law, which had come into effect just days earlier, on January 1st, 2025.
As a result, the woman has been found guilty of violating federal law and was issued a fine of 100 Swiss francs. If she fails to pay the fine, she faces the possibility of one day in prison. However, the fine does not carry a criminal record. In addition to the fine, she must also pay procedural costs of another 100 francs, according to 20minuten.ch.
Switzerland’s Ban on Face Coverings
The nationwide ban on face coverings—commonly referred to as the “burqa ban”—was introduced following a controversial referendum initiated by the Egerkingen Committee, a political group known for pushing anti-Islamic legislation. Under the new law, individuals who cover their faces in public with items such as niqabs or burqas can face fines of up to 1,000 francs.
As reported by Albinfo, since the ban's implementation at the start of 2025, 21 cases involving the wearing of niqabs or burqas have already been reported.
Limited Exceptions Apply
The law provides a few exceptions for covering the face, such as for health, safety, weather-related reasons, or traditional customs. Acceptable face coverings include motorcycle helmets, ski masks, carnival masks, or protective masks for health purposes.
The case has reignited discussions about the implications of the face-covering ban, particularly on the rights of religious minorities and personal freedoms in a diverse and multicultural society like Switzerland.