Last Sunday, in their referendum, the Swiss voted to ban the construction of minarets. They did not ban mosques or Muslims, just their minarets.
The United Nations called Switzerland's ban on new minarets "clearly discriminatory" and deeply divisive. The French Foreign Minister said, "It is an expression of intolerance and I detest intolerance. I hope the Swiss will reverse this decision quickly." The Vatican condemned and Amnesty International said the vote violated freedom of religion and would probably be overturned by the Swiss Supreme Court or the European Court of Human Rights.
And yet, is it not possible that the Muslims have only their brothers to blame for this vote?
Last year, Libya’s dictator, Gaddafi, effectively waged war against Switzerland. He announced a halt to all oil exports to Switzerland and a withdrawal of moneys out of Swiss banks. Libya suspended the issuing of visas for Swiss nationals and forced Libyan branches of Swiss companies to close. In August this year, Libya submitted a proposal for discussion by the General Assembly of the United Nations to abolish Switzerland and dismember it.
What caused Libya’s anger? The audacity of the Swiss police: Gaddafi’s son, a man with a track record of trouble in various other countries, including France, Italy and Denmark, was arrested in Geneva and held in custody for two days for maltreating his domestic staff. His sister, Aisha, vowed "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" and Switzerland immediately surrendered; they even sent their President to Libya to apologize.
Could Sunday’s referendum be the Swiss popular response? The campaign against the minarets will have exacerbated xenophobia and racial intolerance in Switzerland. That is unattractive. Is it also understandable?
Right or not, the Swiss populace deserves credit for their courage!
ReplyDeleteThe political and intellectual elite nearly brainwashed the poor misgiuded wretches:
Through TV, via radio, in newspapers and whatever other media there are.
They warned of dire economical consequences, damage to the precious Swiss reputation, decreasing tourism, even terror.
But the Swiss sovereign spoke its mind in the face of adversity.
They don`t want minaretts that are always taller than their churches.
They understood that these minarets do not primarily signal spiritual piety, but rather wordly dominance.
An afterthought: What if Synagogues were built taller than churches? Surely nobody, NOBODY, would tolerate THAT!
What is the difference between a minaret and a spire?
ReplyDeletees gibt sie also noch, die "liberals" aus altem Schrot und Korn - écrasez l'infâme, sous quelque forme qu'il vienne...
ReplyDeleteזהו ניסיון להסבר קצת פופוליסטי. אני חושב שהלך הרוחות באירופה כנגד התרחבות האיסלם מגיע גם לשוויץ. וגזענות היא משהו שגם אירופאים נהורים לכאורה סובלים ממנו.
ReplyDeleteich glaube, es gibt noch einen anderen Grund. Es haben ungewöhnlich viele Frauen abgestimmt, für sie ging es bestimmt nicht um die Minarette, sondern um das Kopftuch, die Scharia, um die Rechte der Frauen im Islam insgesamt. Das Nein galt auch dem.
ReplyDeletein Schweiz-Rheinfelden (1 Moschee mit Minarett), wurden Lautsprecher angebracht und 6 mal am Tag in voller Lautstärke zum Gebet aufgerufen, sodaß die Leute in Deutsch-Rheinfelden (dazwischen der breite,gestaute Rhein) dies laut hörten und gestört wurden.Dies dürfte u.a. die Wahl beeinflusst haben.Die Lautsprecher wurden inzwischen abgebaut.
ReplyDeleteThere may be another reason for the ban of minarets. I think that the Swiss are generally against anything that could dwarf their mountains.
ReplyDelete