<p>Zurich: Switzerland's parliament on Tuesday voted to outlaw <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/hezbollah">Hezbollah</a>, in a rare move by the neutral country that has traditionally followed a policy of promoting international dialogue and mediation.</p><p>Proponents of the ban, which was passed by the lower house after receiving upper house approval last week, said Hezbollah was a threat to international security and that Switzerland needed to prohibit it to take a stand against terrorism.</p><p>The Swiss government opposed the ban.</p>.Hezbollah chief Qassem says group lost its supply route through Syria.<p>"If Switzerland now moves to ban such organisations with special laws, we must ask ourselves where and how the boundaries are drawn," Justice Minister Beat Jans said during the parliamentary debate.</p><p>The ban against the Lebanese armed group passed the lower house with 126 votes in favour, 20 against and 41 abstentions.</p><p>The security policy committee that proposed the ban argued that Switzerland's mediating role will remain intact thanks to a specific provision on peace talks and humanitarian aid.</p><p>Last week, the Swiss parliament outlawed Hamas for the Palestinian militant group's October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.</p><p>Switzerland had previously only banned al Qaeda and Islamic State, which are on the United Nations' list of terrorist organisations.</p>
<p>Zurich: Switzerland's parliament on Tuesday voted to outlaw <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/hezbollah">Hezbollah</a>, in a rare move by the neutral country that has traditionally followed a policy of promoting international dialogue and mediation.</p><p>Proponents of the ban, which was passed by the lower house after receiving upper house approval last week, said Hezbollah was a threat to international security and that Switzerland needed to prohibit it to take a stand against terrorism.</p><p>The Swiss government opposed the ban.</p>.Hezbollah chief Qassem says group lost its supply route through Syria.<p>"If Switzerland now moves to ban such organisations with special laws, we must ask ourselves where and how the boundaries are drawn," Justice Minister Beat Jans said during the parliamentary debate.</p><p>The ban against the Lebanese armed group passed the lower house with 126 votes in favour, 20 against and 41 abstentions.</p><p>The security policy committee that proposed the ban argued that Switzerland's mediating role will remain intact thanks to a specific provision on peace talks and humanitarian aid.</p><p>Last week, the Swiss parliament outlawed Hamas for the Palestinian militant group's October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.</p><p>Switzerland had previously only banned al Qaeda and Islamic State, which are on the United Nations' list of terrorist organisations.</p>