It was only a few days ago that I read it in the news: 3000 signatures in Ticino to ban Burqas in public places. I must say, it made me shiver and laugh at the same time.
Burqa and Ticino are two words you’ll seldom think of associating. Why? Simply because Muslims in this part of the country are a rare species. There is a small Islamic community in Lugano, the most cosmopolitan of Swiss-Italian cities, but most of its members are liberal and well integrated. Since living here, I have not seen a single lady wearing the full veil.
Just to prove a point, I searched the local photographic agency Ti-Press for pictures of women wearing the veil in Ticino. And was I surprised the search yielded no results? Surely not.
The promoter of the campaign, a failed local politician called Giorgio Ghiringhelli, likes to be referred to as “il Guastafeste,” Italian for “killjoy” and a real supporter of right-wing parties, including the Ticinese League, led by the controversial figure of Giuliano Bignasca.
He managed to put together 3000 signatures and is threatening a popular initiative, a larger scale campaign that usually culminates in a referendum, if the local government doesn't take him seriously.
Great! So there are no Burqas in Ticino, but just in case a rich Saudi oil trader decides to drop by and deposit a large sum of cash in one of the local banks, he’d better remember he should live his wife (or wives) and daughters at home. OR, even better, he should go to Monaco.
