Swiss minaret ban draws strong criticism

GENEVA (AFP) – Swiss voters approved a ban on new mosque minarets being built, prompting dismay and anger in the Muslim world and drew widespread criticism on Monday, with neighbouring governments attacking what they called a demonstration of fear-driven prejudice.
The referendum to ban the towers or turrets attached to mosques from where Muslims are traditionally called to prayer was approved Sunday by 57.5 percent of voters who cast ballots and in 22 out of the country’s 26 cantons.
Far-right politicians across Europe celebrated the results, while the Swiss government sought to assure the Muslim minority that a ban on minarets was “not a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture.”
The far-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP) - Switzerland’s biggest party - had forced a referendum after collecting a mandatory 100,000 signatures from eligible voters within 18 months.
They said that the minarets - of which Switzerland has just four and which are not allowed to broadcast the call to prayer - were not architectural features with religious characteristics, but symbolised a “political-religious claim to power, which challenges fundamental rights.”
Having won a double majority on turnout of 53 percent, the initiative will now be inscribed in the country’s constitution.
“The Federal Council (government) respects this decision. Consequently the construction of new minarets in Switzerland is no longer permitted,” said the government, which had firmly opposed the ban, in a statement.
“It’s an expression of quite a bit of prejudice and maybe even fear,” said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose country currently holds the European Union presidency.
The Vatican also endorsed criticism by Swiss bishops that a vote in Switzerland to ban the construction of mosque minarets was a blow to religious freedom.
Antonio Maria Sveglio, president of the pontifical council on migration, told the ANSA news agency that “we are on the same page” as the Conference of Swiss Bishops.
In a statement after Sunday’s vote, the conference said it “heightens the problems of cohabitation between religions” while secretary-general Felix Gmur told Vatican Radio it was “heavy blow to religious freedom and integration”.