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Swiss politician fined for shooting a pistol at Madonna and Child poster
Sanija Ameti, fined CHF 3,000 with a suspended sentence, faced political fallout after shooting a religious poster and posting images online, violating freedom of religion.
- On January 28, 2026, Zurich District Court convicted Sanija Ameti, Zurich council member, for firing at an auction poster and posting the images online in a 2024 case.
- In September 2024, Sanija Ameti explained she had been practicing shots from about 10 meters at a reproduction by Tommaso del Mazza, only belatedly realizing its religious character.
- The court imposed a suspended sentence of 60 daily fines of CHF50 each, plus a suspended total of 3,000 Swiss francs and an extra penalty of 500 francs, after prosecutors sought larger fines.
- After the ruling, Sanija Ameti quit the Liberal Green Party amid expulsion proceedings, lost the public relations job she held, and will not seek re‑election in the municipal vote on March 8.
- Church media reported bishops condemned the act for hurting Catholic sensibilities while some Catholic leaders later expressed forgiveness, and images posted to Instagram were subsequently removed as prosecutors sought harsher penalties.
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The defense attorney requested her acquittal, emphasizing that she suffered psychological trauma in childhood that has left her with indelible scars, referring to the brother that Sanja Amety lost in the Bosnian war.
Associated Press News+4 Reposted by 4 other sources
Swiss politician fined for shooting a pistol at Madonna and Child poster
A Swiss politician has been fined for firing a sport pistol at an auction poster of a 14th-century painting of Madonna and Child and then posting images of the damage online.
·United States
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Total News Sources20
Leaning Left5Leaning Right3Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution39% Left, 38% Center
Bias Distribution
- 39% of the sources lean Left, 38% of the sources are Center
39% Left
L 39%
C 38%
R 23%
Factuality
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