A woman in Switzerland has been refused citizenship, and therefore a passport, because her "annoying" vegan campaigning has rubbed her neighbours up the wrong way.
Nancy Holten, 42, is a vegan and an animal rights activist who was born in the Netherlands, but has lived in Switzerland since she was eight. She is fluent in Swiss German and her children are Swiss citizens.
Ms Holten has twice tried - and failed - to get a Swiss passport, because other residents in the community of Gipf-Oberfrick, in the canton of Aargau, don't like her outspokenness on animal rights issues.
In Switzerland, locals often get a say in citizenship applications, and Holten's neighbours have given her a thumbs down, Swiss news website The Local reported.
Her opposition to local traditions - such as hunting, piglet racing and cows wearing bells - and her complaints about the village church bells, have led locals to brand her "annoying".
In 2015, her first attempt at naturalisation was approved by authorities, but 144 out of 206 village residents rejected it.
Her second effort was rejected in November.
However, Ms Holten has appealed to the provincial government, which could overturn the locals' vote.
"Many people think that I am attacking their traditions. But that was not what it was about ... What primarily motivated me about the cowbells was the animals' welfare," she told The Local.
Residents said Ms Holten's causes weren't the issue - it was just that she'd been so vocal about them, making regular comments to the media.
Local political figure Tanja Suter said Ms Holten had a "big mouth" and residents would not support her citizenship "if she annoys us and doesn't respect our traditions".
A spokesman for the local government, Urs Treier, suggested Ms Holten was not wanted in the community.
"The reason why they have yet again clearly rejected the naturalisation is that Nancy Holten very often expresses her personal opinion in the media, and also gathers media coverage for rebelling against traditional [Swiss] things within the village.
"It can cause the community to not want such a person in their midst."
However, Ms Holten said she would not give up campaigning.
"The law states that freedom of expression must not have any negative consequences," she told The Local.
"I am still committed to what is important to me. Especially for the animals. Their wellbeing is important to me. If I stop doing it ... I am not being genuine and honest. So I will not stop just for the sake of the Swiss passport."
Stuff.co.nz