The Swiss Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested a suspended fine of 12,500 Swiss francs and 1,500 francs in court costs (approximately 15,000 euros) for Sanija Ameti, on the grounds that she publicly and offensively ridiculed religion. Ameti, who fired nearly 20 shots at a photograph of an artwork depicting the Virgin Mary holding Jesus in her arms and then made it public, subsequently deleted the post and apologised, saying she had “not paid attention to the content of the picture”.
The accusation is based on Article 261 of the Swiss Penal Code, which prohibits public insult to religious feelings. The prosecution stated that Sanija Ameti had offended religious beliefs by posting the aforementioned images on Instagram.
Namely, in September 2024, the Swiss politician of Bosnian origin sparked a major controversy when she posted on Instagram photos of herself shooting at a reproduction of a painting of the Virgin Mary with Jesus and the Archangel Michael from the catalogue of the Koller auction house. The painting by Tommaso del Mazzo, dating from around 1375, was apparently used as a target to shoot at from ten metres.
Her artistic expression had serious consequences
Soon after posting them, she quickly deleted the photos and apologised, saying that she had not paid attention to the religious significance of the painting and that her intention was only to practice shooting to relieve stress. Despite the apology, the action drew strong criticism, in particular from religious communities and conservative circles. Ameti lost her job in the PR agency she had previously worked at, resigned from her leading position in the Green Liberal Party (GLP) in Zürich, and the party also initiated proceedings to expel her.
Ameti was also co-chair of Operation Libero, a Swiss liberal cross-party political initiative set up in October 2014, after the referendum on immigration restrictions. Her action has also caused a rift in this organisation. The East Swiss Committee resigned because the national leadership did not expel Ameti, deeming her apology as sufficient. Critics, especially from conservative circles, have labelled her action as a provocation, while some have called her “Schweizhasserin” (one who hates Switzerland) because of her background and her advocacy of migrants’ rights.
Ameti’s advocacy for a more inclusive migrant policy as a refugee and a Muslim has further upset conservative groups opposed to her views on European integration and migrants’ rights.
A. H.
