SwisspoliticianSanija Ametiresigned from her position after a photograph of her shooting at aChristianpiece of art was exposed. Earlier this month, Ameti took to her Instagram page to share a picture depicting herself using a reproduction of a Madonna and Child Pre-Renaissance florent painting as a gunshooting target.
HighlightsPolitician Sanija Ameti resigned after shooting at a Christian art piece was revealed.Ameti posted a picture of herself using a Madonna and Child painting as a shooting target.Her Instagram post sparked widespread outrage and led to public apologies.Ameti sought police protection amid threats and backlash following the incident.The Green Liberal Party announced expulsion proceedings, and her employer terminated her contract.
Ameti’s Instagram post showed her with a sports pistol during shooting practice, as well as the painting of Mary and Jesus riddled with gunshots,Swiss Inforeported on September 9.
She later reportedly explained onsocial mediathat she had been practicing shots from about 10 metres and only found the poster “big enough” for a suitable target.
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A Swiss politician shooting at a piece of art showing the Virgin Mary and Jesus sparked outrage
Image credits:Kanjana/stock.adobe.com (Not the actual photo)
“I deleted it immediately when I realized its religious content. I didn’t think about it. I’m incrediblysorry.”
Two days later, Operation Libero, a Swiss liberal transpartisan political movement, also issued an apology, writing onInstagram: “Our Co-President Sanija is currently facing public criticism.
Swiss politician Sanija Ameti resigned from her position
Image credits:sanija-ameti.ch
“She used a religious motif during a private shooting exercise and documented this on an Instagram story.
“Sanija quickly deleted the story and publicly apologized in every way for her thoughtless action.”
Image credits:kollerauktionen.ch
It concluded: “Operation Libero has advocated for religious freedom since its founding, stands for an open society, and fights against incitement and hatred.
“This includes our Co-President Sanija. The fact that her action was wrong and inappropriate is clear, but it does not put her commitment to Operation Libero into question.
“We value Sanija Ameti as a politician, as our Co-President, and as a friend.”
Earlier this month, Ameti took to her Instagram page to share the controversial picture
Image credits:operationlibero
Nevertheless, on September 9, the 32-year-old politician resigned from leadership of the Green Liberal Party (GPL) in Zurich,Switzerland. She has since switched her Instagram account to private.
On the same day, the GLP announced that it would initiate expulsion proceedings,SRFreported at the time.
Amid growing backlash, Ameti sought police protection against threats,Euronewsreported on September 10.
Image credits:sanija.ameti
It added: “This hurts the religious sensibilities of many Catholics — including their (the bishops’) own.”
Amid growing backlash, Ameti sought police protection against threats
Image credits:operationliberation
The Swiss Catholic Women’s League subsequently stated that Christians should forgive, and condemned sexist, Islamophobic, and xenophobic attacks which Ameti was subjected to,Le Tempsreported on September 10.
Farner Group, a consulting firm where she worked, also said it would “terminate the employment relationship” with Ameti,Euronewsreported.
Upon receiving threats and losing jobs, Ameti toldKath.ch:“I’m not doing well, and I don’t know how much longer I will be able to endure this.”
Ameti came to Switzerland in 1995 as a war refugee. She was born in Bosnia during the war in ex-Yugoslavia, into a Bosniak Muslim family.
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In 2009, the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) led a campaign resulting in a referendum to ban the construction of minarets across Switzerland, which was widely criticized as Islamophobic.
In 2016, an SVP parliamentarian used discriminatory language, suggesting that Muslims should be barred from entering Switzerland, reflecting the party’s broader anti-Muslim rhetoric.
In June 2017, members of the Swiss Nationalist Party distributed anti-Muslim leaflets in Zurich, claiming that Islam is incompatible with Swiss culture, escalating tensions.
Bored Pandahas contacted Ameti for comment.
“As a Muslim, we love Jesus,” a reader commented
Thanks! Check out the results:Lei RV
Renan Duarte
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