Swiss parliament overwhelmingly votes to ban Hezbollah, despite government opposition

The ban against Hezbollah passed the lower house with 126 votes in favor, 20 against, and 41 abstentions.

By REUTERS DECEMBER 17, 2024 18:26

(photo credit: Canva, MOHAMED AZAKIR/REUTERS, REUTERS/DENIS BALIBOUSE)

Switzerland's parliament on Tuesday voted to outlaw Hezbollah, in a rare move by the neutral country that has traditionally followed a policy of promoting international dialog and mediation.

Proponents of the ban, which was passed by the lower house after receiving upper house approval last week, said Hezbollah was a threat to international security and that Switzerland needed to prohibit it from taking a stand against terrorism.

The Swiss government opposed the ban.

"If Switzerland now moves to ban such organizations with special laws, we must ask ourselves where and how the boundaries are drawn," Justice Minister Beat Jans said during the parliamentary debate.

HEZBOLLAH FLAGS flutter atop a poster depicting Hassan Nasrallah, in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, on October 8, 2023. The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria marks the end of an era, the writer asserts. (credit: REUTERS)

Overwhelming support for the ban

The ban against the Lebanese terrorist group passed the lower house with 126 votes in favor, 20 against, and 41 abstentions.

The security policy committee that proposed the ban argued that Switzerland's mediating role would remain intact thanks to a specific provision on peace talks and humanitarian aid.

Last week, the Swiss parliament outlawed Hamas for the Palestinian terrorist group's Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.

Switzerland had previously only banned Al Qaeda and Islamic State, which are on the United Nations' list of terrorist organizations.