Swiss soldiers under investigation over Nazi salute photo
6 troops suspected of violating racism laws after image of them in front of swastika with arms raised is sent to newspaper
Six Swiss soldiers are under investigation after a photograph of them was published in which they can be seen making Nazi salutes in front of a large swastika in the snow, the Swiss news website The Local reported.
A Swiss military spokesman said the soldiers — who have been detained — will be disciplined for their actions.
The soldiers are currently being investigated over whether they violated Switzerland’s racism laws, and if found guilty could be jailed for up to three years, according to The Local.
Federal Commission Against Racism President Martine Brunschwig Graf told the SonntagsBlick newspaper, which first published the photograph, that “the behavior of these young men was scandalous” and that she planned to meet with army officials to determine how to better vet for potential right-wing extremists during recruitment, according to The Local.
Switzerland, which officially maintains a policy of neutrality in world affairs, currently has universal conscription for all males, making it unclear what steps the military could take against conscripts identified as holding extremist views.
In 2013, Swiss voters voted overwhelmingly against a measure that would have abolished universal conscription.