A recent reported published by Switzerland’s Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), reveals that 42 extremism investigations were requested in 2017. In 2016, there were 50.
Source: Swiss army
Switzerland has a system of compulsory military service for all Swiss men who pass a physical and psychological aptitude test. Those who miss the mark on the test must pay an additional 3% income tax for a certain number of years, unless they are disabled. Women are exempt from both service and the tax.
Most extremism investigations in 2017 related to right-wing extremism. The number of investigations into jihadism in the Swiss army dropped for the first time since 2013.
Of the 42 investigations, 10 revealed no extremism, 21 revealed right-wing suspects, 8 revealed jihadist suspects, and 3 revealed presumed ethno-nationalist extremists. No suspicion of racial discrimination was uncovered.
The army holds a certain attraction among right-wing extremists, a phenomenon well known to the authorities, and something they monitor, said the report.
At the same time, no events with the potential to compromise security were reported.
More on this:
DDPS report (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
