(Bloomberg) -- Switzerland’s government plans to ban public displays of the swastika or the Hitler salute as the country catches up to peers in curtailing the use of Nazi symbols.
The move comes amid a rise of antisemitism since the start of Israel’s war against Hamas last year. Incidents classified as ‘severe’ rose by 68% in parts of the country, according to a government report.
“Every single one of these occurrences contributes to shaking the sense of security, especially among the Jewish population in Switzerland,” it said.
To deter perpetrators, the government wants to impose a fine of 200 francs ($224) for showing Nazi symbols in public, it said on Friday. In a second step, the administration plans to extend the ban to include other extremist and racist emblems, it added.
So far, the use of Nazi signs is only punished in Switzerland if a person actively promotes the associated ideology. Merely showing the symbols isn’t being sanctioned. In targeting this loophole, the government is catching up to other European countries, many of which have maintained stricter laws for decades.
The proposal now enters a three-month consultation period during which public stakeholders can comment on it. After that, it will be discussed and voted on in parliament.
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