US Muslim Civil Rights Group Praises Switzerland’s Hijab Ban Rejection

US Muslim Civil Rights Group Praises Switzerland’s Hijab Ban Rejection
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has welcomed the Swiss government’s decision to reject a proposed ban on the hijab, or Islamic headscarf, in schools, the organization’s website reported.

CAIR, the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, issued a statement praising the move. The organization affirmed its solidarity with the Swiss Muslim community, stating that the rejection “affirms the fundamental right of religious expression.” CAIR emphasized that religious freedom includes “the right to wear religious attire without fear of repression or marginalization.”

The rejection comes after Switzerland’s parliament previously banned the face veil (niqab or burqa) in 2023. CAIR has consistently condemned similar actions in Europe, recently urging Portugal’s parliament to reject a face veil ban and condemning a proposal in Austria to ban the hijab for girls under 14 as “discriminatory and authoritarian.” CAIR views such government decisions as key moments in the fight against Islamophobia.