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Women shoppers flout burqa ban in Ticino

The new ban against the Islamic face veil (niqab) and full-length burqa in the canton of Ticino is not being effectively enforced, according to reports.

Published: 4 August 2016 09:31 CEST

Women shoppers flout burqa ban in Ticino

File photo: Patrick Denker

The ban, which forbids the attire in public places in the Italian-speaking canton, came into force on July 1st this year, with those who flout it liable for a fine of between 100 and 1,000 francs.

But according to local paper 20 Minuti, a number of people are continuing to wear it in public, without consequence.

Readers told the paper that several women wearing the veil have been seen at the Foxtown shopping centre in Mendrisio, and that no one at the centre has reacted or informed the police.

Speaking to the paper, a spokesman for Foxtown said: “We know that women should not cover their faces. But it’s not our place to intervene. That’s the job of the police, and they are always welcome to come here.”

Mendrisio police told the paper that they do regularly patrol the shopping centre but that no one had yet been caught wearing the veil.

The ban — the first in Switzerland — was approved in a public vote in 2013.

Since it came into force some in the hotel sector have been worried about its impact on tourism from the Gulf States, since 45,000 tourists from the region visit the canton every year.

In July one five-star hotel in Lugano told The Local that most people in the sector were against the ban, which had already resulted in one repeat customer, whose wife wears the veil, cancelling their booking.

A sign on the Swiss border with France.

Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

The so-called ‘shopping tourism’ is very popular among Switzerland’s public, as food and many other goods are cheaper in neighbour countries.

At certain times during the Covid-19 pandemic, crossing the border for non-essential reasons, including shopping, was banned, but far fewer restrictions are in place now.

This is what you should know before you go shopping across the border(s):

Italy

As the Lombardy region of Italy is in the red zone since Monday due to a surge in the number of Covid cases, Ticino officials asked federal authorities to strengthen controls at the border.

They noted that “already a year ago, Ticino suffered the first pandemic wave precisely because of the free movement of people from Lombardy”.

This measure, intended primarily to stop Italians from coming into Switzerland, could also impact Swiss residents returning from a shopping trip.

However, Karin Keller Sutter, the head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police, said Switzerland is not planning to implement systematic checks at the Italian borders.

So while theoretically a jaunt across the border is possible, a ‘red zone’ classification means that shops, along with restaurants, schools and museums, are closed.

This is also a situation in Piedmont, another region that borders Ticino.

The only people with unrestricted access both ways are Italian cross-border workers who are employed in Switzerland.

READ MORE: Which of Switzerland’s neighbouring countries can you enter – and what are the rules?

France

Swiss residents are not prohibited from entry into France and do not have to quarantine. But arrivals to France will need to provide a negative test result which is not older than 72 hours.

However, cross-border commuters and people who reside within 30 kilometres of a border area do not need to provide evidence of a test. The evidence that can prove that your residence is within the authorised distance includes an ‘attestation de domicile’ from your local commune or an official envelope with your address on it.

But some shoppers have said that the 30-km requirement is not systematically checked or enforced, because smaller border crossings are unmanned on the French and Swiss side.

In fact, Swiss residents go to France not just for shopping but also to get Covid tests, as they are cheaper than in Switzerland.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Why are Swiss residents going to France to get tested?

Keep in mind too that France has a 6 pm curfew, so you have to return to Switzerland before that time.

Austria

Current regulations require a 10 to 14-day quarantine for all arrivals, including from Switzerland.

The only exemptions are for urgent family matters or work, including the cross-border employees.

So no shopping in Austria for the time being.

Germany

Travel into Germany from Switzerland is discouraged but not banned. This includes tourist and shopping travel, although tourist accommodation is not allowed to open at present in Germany.

While you may be allowed to enter, you may also be required to quarantine.

Whether or not you will have to quarantine depends on which of the 16 German states you are entering. Click here for up to date official information.

Both Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, the two states closest to Switzerland, do not consider shopping to be a valid ‘exception’ – meaning that anyone entering to go shopping will be required to quarantine, which is a great way to spoil a shopping trip.

If the German state requires you to quarantine, it will last for ten days but can be ended early from the fifth day with a negative test result.

People entering from Switzerland must have a negative test result of less than 48 hours and must register online.

Anyone who visits the state of Thüringen/Thuringia will need to quarantine on their return to Switzerland.

Note: This page was updated on March 16th to reflect the updated policies of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, both of which consider shopping and tourism not to be valid reasons to avoid coronavirus quarantine.

Editor’s note: Please keep in mind that this article, as with all of our guides, are to provide assistance only. They are not intended to take the place of official legal advice.

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