A Swiss politician has been convicted for firing a sports pistol at a poster featuring a Madonna and child artwork and posting images of the damage online.

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

She was handed a suspended fine totalling 3,000 Swiss francs (about €3,275), and a penalty of 500 francs. Prosecutors had sought a larger fine.

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.

Ameti afterward apologised, but the shootings and posting caused an uproar and she lost her job in public relations.

She said she had been practicing shots from about 10 meters and found the poster as “big enough” for a suitable target, and only afterwards realised the religious character of the target.