Criminal - terrorist motivated travel
The Federal Council wants to step up the fight against terrorism. It has just approved the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism. In particular, the protocol criminalizes travel for terrorist purposes as well as corresponding acts of financing and support.
The Additional Protocol extends the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism, which Switzerland already signed in 2012. The Additional Protocol criminalizes travel for terrorist purposes and related acts of financing and support. Switzerland will be one of the first states to sign the protocol on October 22, 2015 in Riga.
Swiss law already contains criminal offenses that punish terrorist activities and their preparation. In addition, Article 2 of the Federal Law on the Prohibition of Al-Qaeda and Islamic State Groups and Related Organizations punishes participation in, support for and promotion of these organizations. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is currently conducting around two dozen proceedings against individuals who have joined these organizations or taken steps to do so.
As part of the implementation of the present Additional Protocol, the Federal Council will propose a specific criminal provision against the recruitment and training of terrorists. In addition, a separate criminal offense against terrorist-motivated travel and its financing will be examined. This expansion of criminal liability will be carried out in a proportionate manner; unnecessary encroachments on fundamental freedoms are to be avoided.
Press release: Federal Department of Justice and Police
