The United Nations Human Rights Office expressed its regret that Switzerland joined countries where the law permits discrimination against Muslim women, after a referendum in which the majority of voters supported a ban on covering the face in public places following a political propaganda campaign characterized by xenophobia.

The office spokeswoman, Ravenna Shamdasani, emphasized at the daily press conference that using the law to dictate what women should wear is problematic from a human rights perspective.

She indicated that the legal ban on covering the face will limit the freedom of women to express their religion or beliefs, and affect more broadly their human rights.