Swiss lawmakers considering a ban on hijabSeptember 29, 2011 - 09:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Swiss lawmakers are considering a ban on wearing face-covering veils in some public situations. Switzerland's lower house of parliament voted 101-77 Wednesday, September 28, to outlaw veils like the burqa worn by some Muslim women when using public transportation or dealing with authorities. The measure goes next to the upper house and is being pushed by the nationalist Swiss People's Party before federal elections in October. A lawmaker from the party, Oskar Freysinger, said the aim is "to avoid a religious war" by setting minimum standards for wearing veils. Freysinger campaigned in 2009 to ban construction of minarets in Switzerland, a law that drew international condemnation when voters approved it despite the government's opposition, AP reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |