Switzerland. Photo: Shutterstock The Swiss government approved today (Friday, June 19, 2026) a new bill that would prohibit the public use of Nazi symbols, as part of a growing fight against anti-Semitism, racism, and incitement to hatred in the country.
According to the proposal approved by the Federal Council, it would be prohibited to display symbols clearly identified with the Nazi regime in public spaces, including the swastika, Nazi salutes, and other symbols associated with Nazi ideology. The ban would also apply to gestures, slogans, and even tattoos bearing these symbols when displayed in public.
Anyone who violates the law faces a fine of 200 Swiss francs (about $230). Enforcement will be carried out through a quick and simple fines procedure.
The Swiss government explained that the legislation was intended to close an existing legal loophole, under which only those who used Nazi symbols for the purpose of explicit propaganda could be prosecuted. From now on, the mere public use of the symbols will be prohibited even without proof of intent to spread the ideology.
The law will include exceptions for educational, research, journalistic, cultural and artistic purposes, and will not apply to existing religious symbols that resemble Nazi symbols.
Bern stressed that the increase in the number of anti-Semitic incidents in Switzerland has made the issue particularly urgent. In the first phase, the ban will focus only on Nazi symbols, but at the same time, legislative work is already underway that will allow the ban to be expanded to other extremist symbols in the future, including racist and violent symbols.