Switzerland Advances Ban on Nazi Symbols and Salutes

Switzerland is advancing a bill that would ban public displays of Nazi symbols, gestures and visible Nazi tattoos, the Swiss government said, in a move that would make such expressions punishable even when prosecutors cannot prove propaganda intent.

Under the proposal, public displays of swastikas, Nazi salutes and other National Socialist symbols could result in a fine of 200 Swiss francs, about $250. The ban would also apply to online platforms and recorded or audiovisual media.

The Federal Council, Switzerland’s federal cabinet, said the bill is needed because of the rise in antisemitic incidents in the country. It still requires parliamentary approval before becoming law.

Until now, Swiss law has allowed prosecution for Nazi symbols or glorification of the Third Reich only when they were used for propaganda purposes. The new bill would criminalize the public display of those symbols unless the case falls under a protected exception.

“Nazi symbols represent an ideology that despises human life and contradicts the fundamental values of a liberal democratic society,” the Federal Council said. “Racism and antisemitism have no place in our society.”

The proposed law would cover symbols, objects, gestures, salutes and slogans connected to National Socialism. That includes swastikas, the Hitler salute and Nazi tattoos that are visible in public.

The bill includes exceptions for educational, scientific, cultural, artistic and journalistic purposes. The government said the ban would also not target religious symbols that may resemble Nazi symbols.

The current version does not include Nazi number codes such as “18” and “88,” after concerns were raised during the consultation process that such signs can be ambiguous and are not always immediately recognizable as Nazi symbols.

Swiss Jewish groups have supported action against Nazi symbols, while urging the government to define the prohibited symbols clearly. The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities and the Platform of Liberal Jews of Switzerland previously recommended listing symbols such as the swastika, Hitler salute, SS double rune, SS death’s head and the yellow “Jewish star.”

The legislation follows a 2024 push by parliament for the government to draft a measure against Nazi and extremist symbols. At the time, Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans said that “racially discriminatory, violent, extremist and especially National Socialist symbols have no place in our society and should not be used in public.”

The move comes as Jewish groups in Switzerland report that antisemitic incidents remain elevated since the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel. The 2025 Swiss antisemitism report found that incidents had not returned to pre-October 7 levels, with online antisemitism rising even as real-world incidents declined.

If adopted by parliament, the law would mark the first stage of a broader Swiss effort against extremist symbols. The government said the ban could later be expanded to other extremist expressions not covered in the current bill.