Jean Ziegler, a Swiss sociologist, writer, and politician known for his relentless critique of Switzerland’s banking sector and global capitalism, died on June 10 in Geneva at the age of 92, his son Dominique confirmed. Throughout his career, Ziegler provoked intense backlash in his native country, where he challenged the perception of Switzerland as a bastion of neutrality and ethical business practices.

Ziegler’s outspoken condemnation of Swiss banks, particularly their activities during and after World War II, distinguished him as a controversial and polarizing figure. His 1997 book, “The Swiss, the Gold and the Dead,” argued that much of the gold looted by the Nazis, including that taken from Holocaust victims, passed through and was laundered by Swiss financial institutions to support the German war effort. The book sparked severe criticism in Switzerland, ranging from astonishment to outrage, and led to multiple defamation lawsuits that contributed to his financial difficulties.

Despite calls from some Swiss citizens for treason charges following his testimony before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee in 1998—where he supported investigations into dormant Holocaust-era accounts in Swiss banks—Ziegler was never prosecuted. He maintained that the true wrongdoing lay with the Swiss banking establishment and accused them of tarnishing the country's reputation through their wartime collaboration.

Born Hans Ziegler in Thun, Switzerland, on April 19, 1934, he changed his first name to Jean after encouragement from the philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. He earned degrees in law and sociology from the University of Bern before gaining experience with the United Nations in the Congo during its independence struggle, an experience that deepened his commitment to socialism and social justice. In 1964, he briefly worked as a driver for revolutionary leader Che Guevara in Geneva.

Ziegler served as a Socialist Party member in the Swiss federal parliament during two periods, from 1967 to 1983 and from 1987 to 1999, and taught sociology at the University of Geneva for 30 years. His early works, such as “Switzerland Exposed” (1976) and “Switzerland Washes Whiter” (1990), were critical of Swiss banks and multinational corporations, alleging complicity in global inequality and illicit activities, which intensified the animosity against him from powerful domestic interests.

From 2000 to 2008, Ziegler was the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, during which he vocally criticized multinational corporations, international institutions, and Israeli policies, describing Gaza as “an immense concentration camp.” He famously stated that every child who dies of hunger is effectively a victim of murder, underscoring his commitment to highlighting systemic global injustices.

Ziegler faced recurring legal challenges and personal threats over his career but remained undeterred. In a 2022 interview, he reflected on the lawsuits, stating that although he lost them, they gave him a platform to hold banks accountable. He is survived by his wife, Erica Deuber Ziegler, and his son from a previous marriage, Wedad Seinier.