Swiss politician Sanija Ameti resigns amid religious controversy

Sanija Ameti, the co-president of Operation Libero, has officially resigned from Switzerland's Liberal Green Party (GLP) following months of controversy. The announcement came on Tuesday morning, January 21, 2025, when she informed the party leadership through an email to the press. In her statement, Ameti expressed that she had reached this decision after careful deliberation, citing an inability to continue contributing her liberal and democratic values to the party's political agenda.

The resignation follows a controversial incident from September 2024, when Ameti was photographed firing an air pistol at an image depicting Jesus and Mary. The incident sparked immediate outrage across Switzerland, particularly among religious communities, and led to criminal proceedings. The action was widely criticized as insensitive to religious sentiments and inappropriate for a public figure, especially in Switzerland's multicultural society where religious respect is highly valued.

Prior to Ameti's resignation, the Zurich chapter of the Liberal Greens had already initiated expulsion proceedings against her. Nora Ernst, co-president of the Liberal Greens in the canton of Zurich, confirmed that these proceedings were ongoing but had not reached a conclusion before Ameti's voluntary departure. The party's president, Jürg Grossen, had previously called for Ameti's resignation in the wake of the September incident, highlighting the severity with which the party viewed the matter.

The resignation marks a significant moment in Swiss politics, particularly for the Liberal Green Party and Operation Libero. While Ameti acknowledged the valuable experiences and constructive cooperation during her time with the Liberal Greens, she has not indicated whether she intends to continue her political career in another capacity. The incident and subsequent resignation have sparked broader discussions about the boundaries between personal expression and political responsibility, as well as the role of religious sensitivity in Swiss public life.