No more minarets in Switzerland!
Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional ban on minarets on Sunday, barring construction of the iconic mosque towers in a surprise vote that put Switzerland at the forefront of a European backlash against a growing Muslim population.
Muslim groups in Switzerland and abroad condemned the vote as biased and anti-Islamic. Business groups said the decision hurt Switzerland’s international standing and could damage relations with Muslim nations and wealthy investors who bank, travel and shop there.
“The Swiss have failed to give a clear signal for diversity, freedom of religion and human rights,” said Omar Al-Rawi, integration representative of the Islamic Denomination in Austria, which said its reaction was “grief and deep disappointment.”
The referendum by the nationalist Swiss People’s Party labeled minarets as symbols of rising Muslim political power that could one day transform Switzerland into an Islamic nation. The initiative was approved 57.5 to 42.5 percent by some 2.67 million voters. Only four of the 26 cantons or states opposed the initiative, granting the double approval that makes it part of the Swiss constitution.
Muslims comprise about 6 percent of Switzerland’s 7.5 million people. Many are refugees from the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s and about one in 10 actively practices their religion, the government says.
Too bad France and the UK won’t do this.
Hell! Too bad WE don’t.
We’d certainly be decreasing a target-rich environment, wouldn’t we!
Macker, right now, we’re the ones who’ve been the targets.
I’m tired of these assholes screaming discrimination. There are probably more minarets in Switzerland than there are synagogues or churches in Saudi Arabia.
Oh, and try not blowing up buildings and school buses.
The thing is Switzerland is not on the EU. The EU would never allow Britain or France to hold such a vote and if they did and came up with that answer the EU would make them vote again till the “got it right” Just as they did with Ireland recently. We are witnessing the death of democracy in Europe and I suspect the EU will do everything in its power to reverse the Swiss referendum.
By the way the Swiss have already banned the wailing “call to prayer” crap. This is in my view a positive step. I accept people should be free to practice their religion and they still can in Switzerland. The trouble is that islam is more than just a religion, it is a political ideology that believes itself to be superior all other ideologies. This is a small step on the road to reversing that tide. I still believe the future in Europe will be bloody though.
By the way the Swiss have already banned the wailing “call to prayer” crap.
With all the clocks in Switzerland they should know what time it is and don’t need some jackass yelling.
Good point, CMI. The EU would never allow it….and by so doing, therefore bringing death and destruction to the doorsteps of many in Europe.
HC: “some jackass yelling.” Good one.