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Swiss politician fined for shooting a pistol at Madonna and Child poster

GENEVA (AP) — A Swiss politician was convicted Wednesday for firing a sport pistol at an auction poster of a 14th-century painting of Madonna and child and then posting images of the damage online.

Sanija Ameti, 33, an independent Zurich council member formerly of the Green-Liberal party, was given a suspended fine for “disturbing freedom of religion and worship,” the Zurich district court said in its ruling.

She was handed a suspended fine totaling 3,000 Swiss francs (about $3,900), and a penalty of 500 francs. Prosecutors had sought a larger fine. Swiss public broadcaster RTS reported that she did not speak during the hearing.

Ameti’s lawyer and his office did not respond to emailed requests by The Associated Press for comment.

In September 2024, Ameti fired the sport pistol at an auction poster that showed details of the work “Madonna with Child and the Archangel Michael” by 14th-century Italian painter Tommaso del Mazza.

Images posted in Instagram showing the damage were later removed. Ameti afterward apologized, but the shootings and posting caused an uproar and she lost her job in public relations.

Kath.ch, the website of the media center for the Roman Catholic Church in Switzerland, initially said bishops had condemned the shooting, saying it hurt the sensibilities of many Catholics. Catholic leaders later expressed forgiveness.

Ameti explained she had been practicing shots from about 10 meters (33 feet) and found the poster as “big enough” for a suitable target, and only belatedly realized the religious character of the target.

Beijing bans 4 New Zealand lawmakers from entering China because they visited Taiwan

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Beijing banned four New Zealand lawmakers from traveling to China for a year and demanded they apologize because they visited Taiwan on a parliamentary trip, according to a message from the Chinese embassy conveyed via parliamentary officials and shown to The Associated Press on Thursday. China has hit lawmakers from other countries with sanctions related to contact with Taiwan before, but it's the first time for New Zealand parliamentarians, the government in Wellington said. Beijing has been increasing pressure in recent years on the democratically governed island that it claims as its own territory. Two lawmakers reached by the AP on Thursday rejected the demand for an apology, while the other two could not be immediately reached. New Zealand's government said it would express concern about the travel bans to Beijing. The elected officials visited Taipei in May, as New Zealand parliamentarians have done “for decades,” a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement.
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