Swiss vote to ban minaret construction

[Yuri-G]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe...dum/index.html

Swiss vote to ban minaret construction

November 29, 2009 11:14 a.m. EST

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/WOR...ndum/story.jpg
A passer-by argues with politicians carring a mockup of a minaret at a protest against the referendum in Lausanne.


STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Swiss voters adopt referendum banning construction of minarets, seen by some on far right as sign of encroaching Islamism
• Four existing minarets, tall spires that help to identify a mosque, in Switzerland will remain
• Move to amend constitution to ban new construction is part of campaign by nationalist Swiss People's Party
• Party says minarets are political symbols and therefore go against country's constitution

(CNN) -- Swiss voters on Sunday adopted a referendum banning the construction of minarets, seen by some on the far right as a sign of encroaching Islamism.
"The Federal Council respects this decision," said a statement from Switzerland's government. "Consequently the construction of new minarets in Switzerland is no longer permitted. The four existing minarets will remain.
"It will also be possible to continue to construct mosques," the government statement said. "Muslims in Switzerland are able to practice their religion alone or in community with others, and live according to their beliefs just as before."
As of 10 a.m. ET, 57 percent of voters had cast ballots in favor of the ban, according to Swiss media reports.
Minarets are tall spires extending from mosques or built next to them. They help identify a mosque and also serve as a spot where a religious leader can call the faithful to daily prayers.
The move to amend the constitution to ban new construction is part of a campaign by the nationalist Swiss People's Party (SVP).
The party says the minarets are political symbols and therefore go against the the country's constitution.
It designed fliers that feature a veiled woman against a background of a Swiss flag pierced by several minarets resembling missiles.
The Federal Commission against Racism denounced the posters, saying they "defame Switzerland's peaceful Muslim population, feed prejudice and portray the Muslim community as wanting to dominate Switzerland, oppress women and trample on fundamental rights."
Switzerland's Federal Council and a majority of members of Parliament opposed the initiative, the government statement said, and officials interpret the vote as reflecting "fears among the population of Islamic fundamentalist tendencies."
"...These concerns have to be taken seriously," the statement said. "The Federal Council has always done so and will continue to do so in the future. However, the Federal Council takes the view that a ban on the construction of new minarets is not a feasible means of countering extremist tendencies."
The SVP has courted controversy with its campaigns in the past. In 2007, it faced international criticism for leading an anti-immigration campaign during the federal election that featured a poster with a white sheep kicking a black sheep off a Swiss flag.
Under party leader Christoph Blocher, it went on to win the biggest share of the vote in the 200-member parliament, taking 55 seats.
Earlier this year, the party issued a poster depicting crows pecking at a map of Switzerland, as the country prepared to vote on whether to support an extension of a free movement of labor deal with the European Union that would include new members Bulgaria and Romania.
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Maybe I just don't understand this issue, but isn't this akin to banning construction of steeples? Seems pretty likely to piss a lot of radical Muslims off even more. I don't quite get the point of doing it.

[Eliseos]

Extremists will plot to blow up the LHC now

[Blabj]

Extremists will plot to blow up the LHC now

Everybody wins.

[Kuya]

I don't really understand why you would want to ban something that seems so unimportant and does not really require from anyone else. Or maybe i just don't hate Muslims enough.

[pohibaba]

I'm glad Europeans are much more advanced than silly Americans when it comes to diversity and acceptance.

[Kuya]

Let's not forget some in France want to ban wearing the burka.

[pohibaba]

Let's also not forget the horrible treatment that the Romani people suffer all across Europe.

[Kuya]

Let's not forget Silvio Berlusconi.

[Ramor]

Let's also not forget the horrible treatment that the Romani people suffer all across Europe.

they're gypsies, so it's ok.

[Jodwahh]

Theres a reason he romani's are treated so badly, it's because pretty much every single last one of the fuckers is a thieving bastard.

[Ramor]

fuckers do gyp a lot of people.

also, what the hell swiss you were supposed to be good, apathetic people.

[Kuya]

Theres a reason he romani's are treated so badly, it's because pretty much every single last one of the fuckers is a thieving bastard.

See? It's okay for europeans to say this about the romani, but americans can't say the same about black people?

Are Americans too racist or are they not racist enough?

[Mayareira]

Minarets are somewhat unnecessary since you can't call for prayer anyway (thus, degrading them into a symbol), and it messes up with the skyline (churches generally dominate non-business district skylines and small towns). Switzerland is also known with its xenophobia so this isn't surprising at all.

...and yeah, its not a big deal.

[Jodwahh]

To be fair Kuya when I say romani's what I really mean is Pikeys. I fucking hate pikeys.

[Rhyis.]

I fucking hate pikeys.

Liar. Everybody loves pikeys.

[Lhyet]

To be fair Kuya when I say romani's what I really mean is Pikeys. I fucking hate pikeys.

Ya like dags?

Gotta love the Swiss. Just don't care how others perceive them.

[Jodwahh]

No I really do hate pikeys. Never have I met a group of people that manage to spectactualy live up to every single one of the sterotypes about them quite as wonderfully as the pikeys. Especially the pikeys that spread though my local town like a grubby crime wave every summer.

[Lhyet]

I hate to stereotype, but you're right. I used to work in an electronics store and they'd be round the a few times a day to take the old scrap kitchen items that people bring back. A new group every month. Store goes on red alert for very good reason also.

[Aevis]

as swiss, let me give you some insight of the past month:

the (sadly) biggest party in our country is called SVP and right-winged. they became famous outside of switzerland with controversal campaigns such as

Spoiler: show

http://www.artthrob.co.za/08apr/images/svp_01a.jpg
~create safeness

http://worldradio.ch/wrs/bm%7Epix/le...7Es600x600.jpg

~stop mass-naturalization

about a month ago, they started a huge campaign (i see about 12 of those alone on my way to work) to put a initiative through for a law to prohibit buildings of minarets (mind you, that we already have a departement which approves/disapproves every application for a building anyway):

Spoiler: show

http://diepresse.com/images/uploads/...1008101643.jpg

now when they first were shown to the public, the sentimentst through the media reached from questionable to racist. the problem is/was, that not only the minarets are strongly reminding of missiles but it also shows a woman wearing a burka. it doesn't have anything to do with the actual act. some cities even banned those bills, which created even more buzz around the whole subject. SVP declared the ban to be against the freedom of speech.

our federal council and everyone except the SVP stated to be against it from the very begin. the problem was, that most put it down to be so ridicolous, that it would never be accepted by the people. that lead to no real counter campaign while the SVP kept pushing it. there were street actions (although not officially approved by the SVP) from some minor right-winged parties, where they stood around with speakers and played calls from the muezzin (i'm not kidding). on the boards of most news mags and communities like fb where flame wars going on, which less and less discussed about the real subject (allow minarets). it was rather a "if we allow minarets, it won't take much longer until we turn into a muslim country".

surprised by the high number and against past prognosis, the initiative was accepted this sunday. however, it's not so surprising if you review the course of events: the SVP (once again) managed to score by counting on the fear against the unknown, while every other party missed the opportunity to answer the rised questions. it was either not taken seriously or they could'nt agree on a single counter campaign. there was only a small one coming from the foundation against racism and antisemitism (GRA) and the association of minority groups in switzerland (GMS). I can't remember seeing more than one of those:

Spoiler: show

http://www.gms-minderheiten.ch/minar...rettverbot.jpg

~the sky over switzerland is big enough

p.s. i tried to keep this as factual as possible, without bringing in my own opinion. i voted against the initiative, because imo allowing buildings should only be a task for the responsible department. i'm also aware, that "a" doesn't automatically lead to "b". even in the fictional case of a minaret would be allowed to be constructed right next to me (residental neighbourhood) and somehow a muezzin is allowed to do his call, i seriously wouldn't be more annoyed than by the bells coming from the church ~150m airline. i'm neiter muslim nor christ.

[Mayareira]

The biggest problem with this referandum is that...it shouldn't have been made. It may sound democratic, but in true democracies you don't ask these kind of questions to the citizens. Who knows, they may even vote "yes" to kicking all minorities out of the country. Minority rights should be protected by the constitution and such referandums shouldn't be allowed.

The desires of the majority should be limited by the rights of the minority at least. I find minarets unnecessary in cities where you don't even call for prayer, but a "ban" is just wrong.