Notes on Swiss referendum on ‘burka ban’ accepted by slim majority

The Swiss people have a long tradition of holding frequent referenda on all sorts of subjects. Most of the time, it is remarkable how common sense and reasoning of the people prevails. In this respect, the Swiss people are a global paragon of democracy!

However, this particular referendum on whether a person can wear a face covering or not in public is short sighted and not very convincing:

1. The narrow outcome of this referendum (51.2%) suggests that a qualified majority requirement needs to be urgently instituted (e.g. at least 60% majority) for constitutional changes
2. This referendum clearly aims at religious freedom even though it says face covering. Islam is by far not the only religion instituting particular dress codes. Think of orthodox Jews or Indian Sikhs (turban and a knife) etc. Do the Swiss people want to tell Sikhs not to wear turbans anymore?The referendum includes several exceptions from the ban of wearing face coverings, why not religion?
3. This referendum also undermines the all important and world  famous federalism (Confoederatio Helvetica) in Switzerland. This issue of face covering should have been left to the individual cantons to decide 
4. First the Swiss people banned the building of minarets, now the banned face coverings for religious reasons. I am not sure where this is going
5. This latest referendum possibly violates the world famous Swiss neutrality principle

"A decade after another national vote that banned the building of minarets, Switzerland will introduce a clause in its constitution to outlaw face coverings, including the Islamic burka and niqab, in public spaces. Exceptions to the law will include face coverings for reasons of security, climate, or health – which means protective masks worn against Covid-19 are acceptable. Niqabs and burkas will still be allowed in places of worship. ...
It also marks a blow for the government and parliament, who had opposed the ban on the grounds that it was unnecessary – both because of the low number of niqab-wearers in the country, and because the 26 cantons can legislate on such issues themselves. ..."

Swiss ‘burka ban’ accepted by slim majority - SWI swissinfo.ch