evidence: Switzerland is deciding on whether to ban Muslim face veils in a national referendum - a move that was instigated before the coronavirus pandemic. [...] The proposal under the Swiss system of direct democracy does not mention Islam directly but local politicians, media and campaigners have said it is an attack on the religion. [...] He described facial coverings like the burka and the niqab as "a symbol for this extreme, political Islam which has become increasingly prominent in Europe and which has no place in Switzerland".