Date: 29 Nov 2009
Switzerland risks Muslim backlash after minarets vote /////////////// Switzerland risked a Muslim backlash on Sunday after its citizens voted overwhelmingly to ban minarets on mosques. /////////// By Alexandra Williams in Geneva /////////////// Published: 5:50PM GMT 29 Nov 2009//////////// A pedestrian walks past a display advertising the initiative against the construction of new minarets in Switzerland, in Geneva Photo: REUTERS /////////////// The legally-binding referendum result had not been widely expected and was a huge embarrassment for the neutral government in Switzerland. ////////////// In the run-up to the vote it had warned that a ban would "serve the interests of extremist circles" and damage economic ties with Muslim states. /////////////// Related Articles/////////////// Exit polls show Swiss have backed minaret ban///////////// Home-grown terrorism: our values are not optional Anti-immigrant right-wing populists had championed the vote and led an emotive campaign. The Swiss People's Party (SVP), the country's largest in terms of popular support and membership in parliament, used posters depicting a woman in a burka in front of minarets shaped like missiles rising from a Swiss flag. //////////////// "We're enormously happy. It is a victory for this people, this Switzerland, this freedom and those who want a democratic society," Walter Wobmann, president of the initiative committee, said in a victory speech. "We just want to stop further Islamisation in Switzerland." ///////////////// As recently as two weeks ago, opinion polls showed 53 per cent would reject the ban and just 37 per cent would support it. But yesterday's results showed a swing to 57.5 per cent in favour (1.534 million people), 42.5 per cent against (1.135 million people) and 22 of the 26 cantons also in support of the initiative. ///////////////// Switzerland uses direct democracy for single-issue politics, meaning citizens have the last word on many important political decisions. ///////////////// The backing from both cantons and voters means the words "the construction of minarets is forbidden" will be added to article 72 of the country's constitution. /////////////// In many places support reached more than 60 per cent and in Appenzell Innerrhoden province it was 71 per cent. //////////// Taner Hatipoglu, president of the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Zurich, said: "The initiators have achieved something everyone wanted to prevent, and that is to influence and change the relations to Muslims and their social integration in a negative way." ////////////// Andreas Gross, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, called the ban a "slap in the face to everyone who has an idea of the human rights." ///////////////// He said: "This is clearly the result of a lack of information and political education in Switzerland. As a result the voters have been misdirected by their emotions. The foundations of Switzerland's direct democracy have failed." /////////////// Yesterday's referendum was sparked by a planning application by Muslims in the town of Langenthal, in the canton of Bern, asking for planning permission to add a 30ft minaret to their mosque. What began as a debate about an architectural structure snowballed into an issue about the position of Muslims in Switzerland. /////////////// The vote was triggered when almost 115,000 signed a people's initiative handed to parliament last year in favour of a ban – 100,000 is enough to force a referendum in Switzerland. /////////////// Ulrich Schlüer, of the SVP, said: "The minaret has got nothing to do with religion. It's a symbol of political power, a prelude to the introduction of sharia law. /////////////// "They are symbols of an Islam which wants to establish a legal and social order fundamentally contrary to the liberties guaranteed in our constitution. /////////////// "We compare our situation to Germany, France or England the problems they have in their suburbs. That is what we do not want." ////////////// The minaret campaign was denounced by the government but it said it would respect the people's decision. ////////////// Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said: "The initiative is a kind of proxy war. Its supporters say they are against minarets. But they want to fight what they consider creeping Islamisation and sharia law." //////////////// About 400,000 – 5 per cent – of Swiss residents are Muslims and of about 150 mosques or Islamic prayer houses in Switzerland, only four have minarets. ///////////////// Swiss citizens are called to cast their votes several times every year. They have the final say on specific issues, amending the constitution and challenging parliamentary decisions. //////////////// The only case in which parliament can override this right is if it decides that the motion being proposed is unconstitutional or if it violates international law. ////////////// In the run-up to yesterday's vote, tensions ran high. In Geneva last week a mosque was vandalised by individuals who threw pink paint at the entrance. //////////////// Many Swiss businesses, particularly those with large interests in Muslim countries, came out against the referendum, for fear of a boycott like one that hit Denmark in 2005 following a controversy over published cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. ///////////////// 000000000