U.N. Slams Swiss Ban on Mosque Minarets

(AP)  The United Nations called Switzerland's ban on new minarets "clearly discriminatory" and deeply divisive, and the Swiss foreign minister acknowledged Tuesday the government was very concerned about how the vote would affect the country's image.

U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay said Sunday's referendum to outlaw the construction of minarets in Switzerland was the product of "anti-foreigner scare-mongering."

The criticism from Pillay, whose office is based in the Swiss city of Geneva, comes after an outcry from Muslim countries, Switzerland's European neighbors and human rights watchdogs since 57.5 percent of the Swiss population ratified the ban.

The Swiss government opposed the initiative but has sought to defend it as an action not against Islam or Muslims, but one aimed at improving integration and fighting extremism.

"These are extraordinary claims when the symbol of one religion is targeted," Pillay said in a statement. She said she was saddened to see xenophobic arguments gain such traction with Swiss voters despite their "long-standing support of fundamental human rights."

The referendum doesn't affect Switzerland's four existing minarets, or the ability of Muslims to practice their religion. It only bans the towers used to put out the Islamic call to prayer.

But wealthy Arab tourists might think twice now about spending their money in Geneva and other Swiss cities, and the neutral country's efforts to mediate in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could also suffer.

Sweden, which holds the European Union's rotating presidency, said the United Nations should reconsider its presence in Geneva, where it employs thousands of people and holds hundreds of conferences each year.

"Questions could very well be raised within the U.N. about holding meetings and activities in Switzerland, even if the Geneva canton belonged to those which voted against the ban," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said on his blog.

Bildt said the vote was a poor act of diplomacy on Switzerland's part.

"Even if this is Switzerland, it sends a very unfortunate signal to large parts of the rest of the world about attitudes and prejudices in Europe," Bildt said. "We all have an interest in showing that this impression is false and in the long-term even dangerous."

In Athens on Tuesday, Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said the government was worried about the ban.

"We are very concerned with this referendum. The reality of our societies in Europe and throughout the world is that each limitation on the coexistence of different cultures and religions also endangers our security," Calmy-Rey said during a meeting of foreign ministers of the 56-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

"Provocation risks triggering other provocation and risks inflaming extremism," she added.

(AP/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron)

Sunday's referendum, which was backed by nationalist parties, forced the government to declare illegal the building of any new minarets.

(Left: Protestors erect a symbolic minaret, at the Place Neuve square in Geneva, Monday, Nov. 30, 2009.)

Calmy-Rey stressed that Muslims were accepted in Swiss society, and the decision would not change the foreign policy of the country, which would continue to maintain close relations with Muslim nations.

"Swiss Muslims are well integrated and will continue to attend the 200 mosques in the country," she said.

The minister said if an appeal against the referendum is lodged at the European Court of Human Rights, it would be up to the court to decide on its legality.
By Associated Press Writer Bradley S. Klapper; AP writers Frank Jordans in Geneva, Elena Becatoros in Athens and Louise Nordstrom in Stockholm contributed to this report

[NSjournal]

The iconic mosque towers help define Islam. Banning them is akin to banning the faith. It's a step in such a wrong direction that consequences of global proportions await just around the corner. And it won't be good.
It's not the first European country to prove that democracy is only for the chosen. (A referendum isn't democracy, it's anarchy) The Islamic backlash has infected most other European countries, especially including Britain, Holland, and France. The recent Allah cartoons, lampooning the prophet, originated in Denmark and were carried in newspapers across the continent. Anti-Islamic sentiment seems to be the modern day version of the Crusades as the west attacks a people and a faith via legislation, propaganda, and the excuse of the terrorist actions of a handful of fundamenatalists.
Ironically, Muslims have re-acted with admirable restraint despite the fact they are popularly depicted as bloodthirsty killers.
Unbelievably, the Swiss fear that one day the country could be transformed into a Muslim state -- despite the fact that Muslims make up just over six per cent of the population. A truly multicultural country -- accepting of all -- would never have that fear or that problem.
It is unimaginable that here in Canada we would ever devolve to such intolerance, yet a step at a time and it only takes a short few years to first segregate and them demonize an entire people in the eyes of the masses. Witness pre-Second World War Germany where Jews lost all rights from the right to work to the right to live. Witness post-Second World War Israel, created from the homelands of Palestinians forced to flee to Southern Lebanon. All this while the eyes of the world watched in apparent apathy.
Ethnic cleansing is common in Europe, and indeed around the world. Described in epidemiology terms, doctors would consider it a plague. Banning the Islamic faith is only the incubation period of a deadly illness. The Swiss should be ashamed, and the world should re-act to such a debasement of a people with more than stern words. Unfortunately, nobody seems to be working on a vaccine against hatred.
What I have read in these posts makes me ashamed of my fellow man.

[anselan2009]

Thank you! Many of the arguments made below make absolutely no sense. Just because some "Muslim" countries ban Christian symbols or even Christianity itself doesn't make it right to ban minarets. Why would you want to sink to that level? Surely the whole point is to contrast a tolerant, multi-cultural, democratic society with a closed, tyrannical one. Moreover, by actions such as this one, the Swiss (and Europe in general) are ironically making themselves more vulnerable to fundamentalist/terrorist backlash, and may actually push many Muslims in the direction of extremism. Surely the best "cure" for this problem is more tolerance, not less, and demonstrating actively the values of democracy and tolerance.

[NSjournal]

Thanks! I guess I'm not ashamed of all of my fellow men/women. Nice to see your comment. My post above is a condensed version of an editorial I wrote and published in my own newspaper.

[vampares-2009]

No, no. EU needs not question anyone outside of itself -- by the nature of its existence, if not legal statue.

Anyone who has been to Germany and other continental European cities can tell you that there is a rising influx of non-European middle easterners (particularly of Turkey or relating to Turkish origins).

They are NOT immigrants in the proper sense. They do NOT seek to assimilate. These newcomers are pulled into pre-existing Arab communities with dreams of the "Euro-Dollar".

They are incredibly rude. They are scam artists. They don't just dig into -- they annihilate what should be a local economy.

They commune inside of city centers. They reproduce. The children are on the far right wing of obnoxious (disgusting). Whilst Euro communities actively cull the educational system, the numbers are too great to burden.

As a result, Europe begins to look a lot more like the classic American-suburban-sprawl. As we Americans elect a half-n-half, let there be no misunderstandings.

[AbdulDaBerber]

Funny how most comments here and in other newspapers support the Swiss ban. I think that if the same vote was taken in most European countries the result would be the same (and yes, I know, because I'm European).

Just shows how out of touch the ruling elites are with the voters they are supposed to represent. Only the far right wing parties seem to be listening. Beware, Europe, and pray that the bleeding heart liberals come to their senses before fascist governments start popping up all over the continent.

Big deal about the UN leaving Switzerland. I wish they'd leave the US too at the same time. Let them set up offices in Dubai. There's lots of empty office space there, I hear, and they have minarets. Also, they won't constantly create traffic havoc in NYC. The UN is a completely useless agency anyway, milking the US of yet more money.

I agree with the majority. When Christians have religious freedom in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the rest of those primitive woman-hating countries, then the muslims are welcome to religious freedom in Christian countries. Until then, clam up muslims. We're tired of your whining.

[cidaia]

Oh and yes, I would say the same thing if it was concern over whether gaudy mega-church denomination trying to spread ostentatious Western religious symbols all over some Middle Eastern or Asian landscape.

(But of course that doesn't happen, because Middle Eastern and Asian nations are allowed to restrict cross-building if they like, and they do.)

[cidaia]

In Europe they have also kicked up a fuss over McDonalds, Starbucks, and Disneyland. Maybe they care about preserving their cultural identity, or preserving their architectural integrity?

I know here in America those of us who can afford to, like to live in neighborhoods (preferably gated ones) that preserve the architectural integrity of the community. Given how the Swiss are culturally like ten times older than us, and far richer in terms of the cultural legacy they have to preserve, it's really pretty nervy of us to be saying what they should or shouldn't allow to be built.

[krmopilci]

ss muslim bosnia from tokyo to los angeles.no more pork,no more cheating,no more alcohol,no more porn or strippers.prayers 5 times a day.

[YoureSoWrong10]

SS as in Schutzstaffel. When the court convenes, prayer 5 times a day might almost help.

[Uncle_Eccoli]

Good on the Swiss. The UN is a bunch of Third World thugs and despots with a few free countries sprinkled in.

I predict we'll see a spectacular swing to the political right in Europe in the coming decade.

[krmopilci]

you have never been in europe if you think that.

[Uncle_Eccoli]

The universe must be about to collapse in on itself under the impossible weight of the paradox, then.

[cbs_tom]

I wonder if the UN would also find it "clearly discriminatory" that Saudi Arabia does not allow church's in its' land much less Christianity or any other religion. Are they actively seeking to end the persecution against the Christians in Sudan?

[krmopilci]

only dollars and cadillacs in saudi arabia

[standfast127]

Good for them...someone isn't afraid to stand up for themselves! You go Switzerland! Sharia law sucks and some people can see these people's intentions. They want to impose rule over the world and impose sharia law on you. Those who disagree will be killed ...its in their bible. Screw the U.N. and what they think...do what works for you. There is no way in hell someone would build a minnoret near my home...I would personally remove it.

[krmopilci]

standfast-we will make a good muslim of you.i,aziz tyson and mohammad ali are coming to your town's home depot and are starting to build a mosque next to your house.circumsize yourself,shave the head,grow the beard,dont eat swine flue pork.i am bringing you the white cap.allahu akbar

[YoureSoWrong10]

That statement repeats like a belch at an Arab feast, doesn't it?

[from_the_north]

Woops, where is our belief in Democracy? If a country has an election, who are we to say it isn't correct??? Wow, if we don't like the outcome of the referendum, are we going to tell the Swiss people how to vote? Does everybody in the world have to do as the USA wants??? By the way, I think if we had a vote here we would get the same result.

[cidaia]

I agree that we really are overstepping ourselves by telling the Swiss what they can or cannot include in their building codes.

But I disagree that a vote here would get the same result, because America does not care about its architectural heritage, and does not care that our cities look like trash dumpsters. While Europeans are known to be concerned about things like architectural integrity, we are apparently not even capable of comprehending the concept. (Where else but in America could a building shaped like a gigantic basket be considered a tourist destination?)