Zurich, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Two popular initiatives, both dealing with assisted suicides, have gathered enough signatures to call for a vote in canton Zurich. No date has been scheduled for the votes. The first calls for the canton to allow assistance but only for people who have been resident in the canton for at least a year. The second calls for the canton to insist on a change in Swiss federal law by banning all encouragement of and assistance to people committing suicide.
Both initiatives were started by the UDC, Switzerland’s right-wing party. Swiss citizens vote several times a year, at all three political levels (communal, cantonal, federal) on grassroots or political party initiatives that have gathered a minimal number of signatures.
Suicide assistance is not a crime in Switzerland, but it is strictly regulated. Several cases have received media attention in recent months, particularly where people from other countries have been involved. The most recent publicized death was that of British musician Sir Edward Downes and his wife Joan at the Zurich clinic Dignitas.
Zurich has traditionally been a predominantly Catholic canton and suicide is considered a mortal (serious) sin by the Catholic Church.
Related: romandie/ats (Fre)
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News story, GenevaLunch, 7 August 2009.
Filed under: Society
Tags: assistance, assisted suicide, canton, death, Dignitas, Joan Downes, popular initiative, religion, Sir Edward Downes, suicide, Zurich