Woman Was Denied Swiss Citizenship Because She Was Too Annoying

Switzerland is known for its outstanding chocolate, high-quality watches, and the dreadful pain of attaining its citizenship. Nancy Holten is one of many who have experienced this kind of pain firsthand. Although born in the Netherlands, she has lived in Switzerland for 34 years since she was 8. Currently residing in the village of Gipf-Oberfrick in the northern part of the Aargau canton, she lives with her three daughters who are Swiss citizens. Fluent in Swiss-German, Nancy actively participates in her community, having served on the parents’ committee at her daughters’ school. Yet, she was rejected for a Swiss passport twice.

Swiss Law for Attaining Citizenship

To become a Swiss citizen, you need to be a permanent resident for at least 12 years, with 3 of those years spent in Switzerland within the last 5 years before applying. You must also be proficient in one of Switzerland’s main languages. Additionally, you have to follow Swiss laws, not pose a threat to the country’s security, integrate into Swiss life, and be familiar with Swiss habits and traditions. These criteria aim to ensure a thorough evaluation of citizenship applicants.

Moreover, there is a poll that makes it possible for citizens of Gipf-Oberfrick to decide if someone deserves to become a citizen of their land. And this is where things took the wrong turn for Nancy. She was denied Swiss citizenship twice because the locals voted against it on the basis of being too annoying and disrespecting the Swiss culture.

Too Annoying for Swiss Citizenship

Local authorities initially approved Holten’s application for naturalization in 2015, but it faced rejection in a vote by 144 out of 206 residents of Gipf-Oberfrick. She was rejected again in 2016, by a similar-sized group. The issue, it appeared, wasn’t solely Holten’s outspoken criticism of the village bells. Rather, the locals argued that Holten’s activism demonstrated a lack of respect for the cultural traditions of the village and the country. During the debates, some attendees even booed her. Tanja Suter, the president of the local Swiss People’s Party branch, did complain to reporters about Holten’s “big mouth”. “If she annoys us and doesn’t respect our traditions,” she will not get citizenship according to her.

Importantly, the public nature of Holten’s perceived disrespect worsened the concerns raised by some members of the community. Urs Treier, a spokesman for the Gipf-Oberfrick administration, stated to “The Local” that the clear rejection of naturalization for Nancy Holten is due to her frequent expression of personal opinions in the media. Additionally, he pointed out that Holten actively garners media attention by rebelling against traditional Swiss practices within the village. However, according to Ms Holten, everything is just a misunderstanding on their part.

Nancy Holtens Defence

Holten refutes the notion that her advocacy for animal rights is an attack on Swiss culture. She clarified to The Local, saying, “Many people think that I am attacking their traditions, but that was not what it was about, it was never about that. What primarily motivated me about the cowbells was the animals’ welfare.”

In her defense, Holten explained her advocacy against cow bells by highlighting that the animals carry around five kilograms around their necks, causing friction and burns to their skin. Additionally, she emphasized the noise impact, stating, “The sound that cow bells make is 100-decibel. We also would not want such a thing hanging close to our ears.”

Finally, a Case for Celebration

In 2017 Nancy Holten took measures into her own hands. The cantonal government handles some of Switzerland’s more complex naturalization applications, possessing the authority to override rejections made by the local authorities of Gipf-Oberfrick. She appealed to the Aargau cantonal authorities who decided in her favor. After two years of battling with the locals, she is finally a citizen of Switzerland. “It is an indescribable feeling. I have the feeling that I have finally ‘arrived’. Switzerland is my homeland,” she said to The Local.

As far as her activism is concerned, she claims that she will not stop fighting for animal rights. Also, she is currently writing a book about herself and her experience with the cowbell controversy. The tentative title is “indescribable,” which translates to “What Annoys.“

Not all of us are willing to fight for a cause that is close to our hearts. Especially not when something else that is also close to our heart interferes. What about you? Would you keep fighting even if you have something at risk? You probably will have to think about this one. Good luck!

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