On 7 March, the Swiss public voted to ban full-face coverings, in a display of shocking — but predictable — sexism and Islamophobia. Alarmingly, the institutionalisation of Islamophobia is the rise across Europe. Religious and gender-based discrimination against Muslim women has become more commonplace as right-wing, populist sentiments sweep across Europe.Doreen speaks to Inès El-Sheikh of the Foulards Violets, a Swiss-born, Muslim feminist with North African roots about the results of the referendum; the intersection of race, religion and gender for Muslim women in Switzerland and Europe; and what the “burqa ban” means for all of us.Note: in the episode, Isobel and Doreen discuss the recent French Senate vote in favour of banning the burqa. The bill is not yet in effect and requires the approval of the National Assembly.Les Foulards Violets:https://lesfoulardsviolets.org/French Senate Votes to Ban the Hijab for Muslim Women Under the Age of 18, Hafsa Lodi, Vogue https://en.vogue.me/culture/french-senate-votes-hijab-ban/As a French Hijabi, This is What I Think of My Country’s Controversial Hijab Ban, Hafsa Lodi, Vogue https://en.vogue.me/culture/france-hijab-ban-impact/amp/Where Face Masks Are Required but Burqas Are Banned, Rim-Sarah Alouane, Foreign Policy https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/03/10/switzerland-europe-burqa-ban-referendum-coronavirus-face-masks-egerkinger-komitee/ Switzerland referendum: Voters support ban on face coverings in public, BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56314173 Week in Review: Switzerland turns its back on freedom of religion, Ian Dunt, politics.co.uk https://www.politics.co.uk/comment/2021/03/12/week-in-review-switzerland-turns-its-back-on-freedom-of-religion/?cmpredirect Swiss voters back ban on minarets, BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8385069.stm La Suisse adopte « l’initiative anti-burqa » d’une courte majorité, Serge Enderlin, Le Monde, https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2021/03/07/en-suisse-une-votation-sur-le-niqab-ne-masque-pas-la-perte-de-vitesse-de-la-droite-populiste_6072230_3210.htmlShe Was Disqualified for Running With a Hijab. Here’s How Noor Alexandria Abukaram Fought Back, Taylor Dutch, Runner’s World https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a35618728/noor-alexandria-abukaram-human-race/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the position of our employers. Photo via Unsplash