Swiss Muslims speak out against minaret ban

The initiative to ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland discriminates against Muslims as a religious minority, Swiss Muslims believe.

At a joint media conference on Thursday, representatives of national Muslim umbrella organisations explained the position of their communities towards the anti-minaret initiative which comes to a popular vote on November 29.

"Muslims in Switzerland identify with Switzerland as their home, whose constitution and laws guarantee them protection, freedom and security," said Farhad Afshar on behalf of the Coordination of Islamic Organisations of Switzerland.

Afshar accused the initiators of the anti-minaret campaign of attacking Islam and the freedom of religious practice under the cover of attacking minarets.

He pointed out that all religious buildings have their own specific characteristics which are part of the identity of the religion involved. It is up to members of whichever religion to decide what they want to build, within the general framework of the law.

He warned that both Switzerland's excellent image in the Muslim world and the hopes that many Muslims placed in the country could be damaged by the "senseless" campaign.

Hisham Maizar, chairman of the Federation of Islamic Umbrella Organisations of Switzerland, said that the initiative was discriminatory, adding that Muslims in the country were fed up with being the butt of populist attacks.

"Muslims living in Switzerland are explicitly and decisively opposed to violence, terror, extremism and destructive populism," he said.

swissinfo.ch and agencies

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No doubt any such ban will greatly damage the impresson of Switzerland as a free and secular state. However, it will not be the only country. Although i am a muslim myself, i feel sorry that KSA has denied any church building. Politicaly this is a sensitive issue which needs clear and logical decission. Do swiss people want to be called as biased or they want to remain free of any fear, it is upto them. I would like to say the building of minaters is not necessary for mosque in any islamic law. It is purity of mind and soul that makes mosques beautiful.

I also think that this initiative is a shame. Moreover, an insult to religious liberty. Some people say that the Muslims are extremists, are still living in the middle-age. But I think that the people who want to forbid the minarets or other religious symbols are the extremists ones. In the name of what do they allow themselves to talk about this or this religion like that ? We are all humans, remember ? I think we shall recall to ourselves that the world won't go further unless we accept (and try to understand) each other's culture and beliefs. I think like Mr. Muri: fanatism won't be eliminated if we ban Minaret's construction but if we fight the problem from inside !

Hi Daniel Sarga, I think someone in the UK made a similar speech around 20 years ago, Now the UK is the proud owner of 5 Sharia courts. Cool or what! I think what causes concern for most people is whether Swiss Musilms are committed to Islam first and Switzerland second, do they believe in for example, in the global expansion of Islam to every corner of the earth and total domination as many Imans have suggested. Would they themselves, try to stop this if it started to happen? or would they embrace it as the will of god? Would they fight for freedom of thought and freedom of speech? I don't know, do you?

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This initiative is an absolute shame. There is no single good argument to change, as proposed, Switzerland's constitution in order to explicitly forbid a religious symbol. The swiss Muslims are quite discreet, they do not ask for much and surely are not trying to "islamicize" Switzerland. This is pure paranoia, scapegoat bashing and it does reminisce strongly of the kind of conspiracies theories one saw in the 1900's against the jews. What does the Turkish or Kosovo Muslims residing in Switzerland have in common with the Ben Ladens, suicide bombers and fanatics that make up this paranoia? Josi Walter: indeed, there are many ways to discuss, case by case, whether a minaret should be constructed or not. It's part of the "construction law" and it works very well. No need at all to change the constitution. Minarets do NOT mean muezin calls. Johan: What the muslims (or rather, their governments) do in other parts of the world have nothing to do with the issues at stake in Switzerland. If you happen to be Christian, I am certain you would hate to be made responsible for what Christians do in Brazil or in Ethiopia. If one really sees Islam as backward, then one should surely not follow the same way of exclusion! Unless we wish to be as backwards. James , Switzerland: we should surely not change our Constitution because what a prime minister has said! Should we ban Judaism because of what the Israeli government said? Ban English because of a speech of some Australian politician! If you want to find some confirmation of your fear, you will probably will find them -- just ask Al Quaeda. But this has nothing to do with the practicalities of Switzerland. Which has, by the way, FOUR minarets today. Hardly an invastion, is it?

The people will decide. But sadly, because the majority of people in Switzerland are short sighted and too liberal I suspect the structures will be allowed after all 'Its just a religious symbol right?' Wrong. What on the face of it is a trivial thing is in fact a thicker piece of the wedge and will encourage more challenges to Swiss culture and national identity if it is allowed. Dont make me say 'I told you so'.

When we read Swiss news we are aware of quite a paradox inside the country. On one hand, there should be no more symbolic representations (crucifix or otherwise) of Christianity in schools or certain public places, but on the other hand, Swiss are told by certain media that they are prejudice if they do not want minarets on their landscape. From what I hear, Swiss are against skyscrapers or any high and great building hinderance to the landscape. People fight against cell phone towers all of the time. Not to forget that any high decibel noise is not tolerated. Residents in Switzerland cannot even run a lawnmower after 8 pm - it disturbs the peacefulness of the community. So, when reflecting on a trip to Morocco and Tunisia, where the call to prayer was highly amplified, I couldn't imagine that Swiss law would condone daily high volumed call to prayers.

Many Christians also see themsleves as an "army of the lord" and still celebrate the bloodbaths known as the crusades. Not all, but some. And the same goes for Muslims. Not all Muslims see their mosques as "barracks." Like churches for Chrisitians, they are places of worship. While I, personally don't agree with organized religions or their teachings, I recognize the human right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression. Minarets are not going to puncture the landscape of Switzeland in the way Christian describes. Switzerland's population is less than 5% muslim. Mosques, as architectural edifices, can be just as beautiful as other religious or non-religious lndmark structures like the mormon temple in Salt Lake City or the Jewish Tempio Maggiore in Firenze. Is is that minarets are so hideous? Or is it that they represent Islamic Terrorism? If your argument is the former, then have you seen the Blue Mosque or any other mosque in Istanbul? And if your argument is the latter, then there certainly shouldn't be any Christian/Catholic or Jewish churches or temples either because they are all equally violent both today and historically.

Why must the West accomodate the Muslims to an extent that they will never be willing to accomodate us.Society can only improve if it is open to change.The way we criticise the Bible,how many Muslims do that to the Quran without fear of death.The Muslim world is around 500 years behind...if it doesnt want to improve ..
why should we be bothered.Let them settle in Saudi Arabia close to their prophets and mosques

If there is any kind of Islamisation threat or fear.. we shouldn't just defend our selves by banning the physical part of it! I don't think that banning any physical Islam (mosques, minarets, head covers....) would have helped UK, Netherlands, and France overcoming their problems with Muslim communities.. we should be aware of the hidden extremism and brain washing that could exist within the young Muslims.. which much more important than the physical Islam we do see every day in our lives. We should talk to the young Muslims hold their hands and protect them from any isolation that could lead to any sort of extremism.. We are civilised and smart enough to handle the things in a better way, Only naive people would think that banning minarets would be the solution.

James, I totally agree, even though the article is trying show signs of peaceful co-existance, the speaker cannot resist punctuating the text with veiled threats. The word Islam is peddled to non- arabic speakers as meaning 'peace', and that it is derived from the word salam, but apparently this is not the case. It is suggested that it is more than likley derived from the word salama which would mean 'Submission' or 'Surrender' and it is said that it was often used in messages, when offering a vanquished army the option to either surrender or die. I would suggest it is up to the individual to decide which version is correct but personally I would not put Salam at the top of the list.

James, these minarets will be like foreign missiles (well illustrated in the no-to-minarets campaign poster) on Swiss soil which will be used against the Swiss nation. I have seen what has happened in Britain, all the efforts to make it a multicultural country. I see myself as a self-appointed honorary Swiss. I am extremely concerned that these missiles will start in a few urban areas, but will later be in photographs of the matterhorn. A few years down the line a Swiss muslim photographer will put together a collection & well put it on show at the National Museum or National Gallery, under the category 'Swiss Cultural Landscape'. Watch this space - Muslims suggest that such concerns are due to hate, but I would suggest that the majority of so called 'haters' just love the country they know, as it is. Switzerland is not a muslim country & this should not be an aspiration. We have already seen that Swiss muslims are using their voice, & are using threatening assertions, with reference to Switzerland's image in muslim countries. Switzerland should find an alternative to oil as soon as possible, because these countries are using it as leverage to achieve everything they want including islamisation of the alps. It is important to note that Turkey is supposed to be a secular state, but not as we (Switzerland)know(s) it.

Switzerland is a country which I have great respect for, which is why it saddens me that they allow this kind of hatemongering in their midst. It would certainly not be permissable to depict Jews in crude cartoons, so why is it OK to do it to Muslims? Is Islamaphobia really the last acceptible form of religious intolerance???

''He warned that both Switzerland's excellent image in the Muslim world and the hopes that many Muslims placed in the country could be damaged by the "senseless" campaign.''

This is a threat and it is a typical response.

The following statement by Prime Minister of Turkey, Erdogan , is more to the point and more honest in its delineation of the militant and supremacist nature of the Islamic belief system. It is because of this that minarets must be banned.

"The minarets are our bayonets, the domes our helmets, the mosques are barracks,the believers our army."