Switzerland eyes Nazi symbols ban due to surge in antisemitism

Switzerland is looking to ban the swastika, Hitler salute and other Nazi signs due to a rise in antisemitism, the federal government announces.

The Federal Council says in a statement that “banning symbols linked to the Third Reich has taken on a particular urgency due to the sharp increase in antisemitic incidents”.

It proposes an immediate ban on “the use of Nazi symbols in public” and imposing a fine of about 200 Swiss francs ($224) on anyone who breaks the law.

The Swiss penal code will be amended to punish anyone who uses “a racist, extremist, Nazi symbol or one that advocates violence in order to propagate the ideology it represents.”

Switzerland also wants to go further than banning the most well-known Nazi symbols, extending it to more cryptic signs of recognition used by supporters of Nazi ideology.

As such, the use of the “18” — the first and eighth letter of the alphabet signifying Adolf Hitler’s initials — and “88” — for “Heil Hitler” — will also fall foul of the proposed law.

“The context will play a decisive role in this case,” the Council says.

Exceptions are provided for educational, scientific, artistic or journalistic purposes but “within the limits of what freedom of expression allows,” it adds.

Existing religious symbols which are identical or similar to Nazi symbols will not be affected.

Consultation on the proposed ban will run until March 31 next year and includes a separate future outlawing of “other extremist symbols”.