The Swiss People’s Party, Switzerland’s biggest political party, has put forth a proposal to deport entire families if one child is convicted of drug offenses, fraud, or a violent crime. Ronnie Bernheim of the Swiss Foundation against Racism and Anti-Semitism says the idea is similar to the Nazi practice of “Sippenhaft,” where relatives of criminals were held responsible and punished equally. As we know all too well, you can’t be neutral on a moving train and Switzerland’s ticket was paid for with Nazi gold (I kid, I kid).

What really drives the message home is the campaign poster (above) which exploits the rampant xenophobia in Switzerland by depicting three white sheep kicking a black sheep out of the country. This racism is poorly hidden under a common colloquialism regarding an outcast or “black sheep” who is shunned by the herd. President of the People’s Party Ueli Maurer said, “As soon as the first 10 families and their children have been expelled from the country, then things will get better at a stroke.” The party is seeking 100,000 signatures to force a referendum on the issue. Much like the BNP and KKK, the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) insists they are not racist.

So far, there has been little backlash against the posters, and observers say it may even help the party in the October national elections. Another racist anti-immigration ad, put out by the party in 2004, showed black hands reaching into a pot full of Swiss passports. It too was popular amongst the majority of Swiss voters. Earlier this year, a nationwide initiative was also proposed by the party to ban minarets. The ban is not only unconstitutional, but directly aimed at Muslims, as no such restrictions are placed on Christian churches or Jewish temples. If this new proposal becomes law, it’s inevitable that trumped up charges will be made against immigrants in order to “cleanse” the country of the black sheep some people think don’t belong in Europe.

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