Popular referendum in Switzerland ban the construction of minarets

[antares24]

From the BBC:

Swiss voters back ban on minarets

More than 57% of Swiss voters have supported a referendum proposal to ban the building of minarets, according to results from 25 out of 26 cantons.

Partial results from the final canton indicated 68% of people there supported the ban, Swiss news agency ATS said.

The proposal has been backed by the Swiss People's Party (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which claims minarets are a sign of Islamisation.

Opponents say a ban will discriminate and that the ballot has stirred hatred.

The BBC's Imogen Foulkes, in Bern, says the surprise result is very bad news for the Swiss government which had urged voters to reject a ban on minarets, fearing unrest among the Muslim community and damage to Switzerland's relations with Islamic countries.

Our correspondent says voters worried about rising immigration, and with it the rise of Islam, have ignored the government's advice.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8385069.stm

Basically, despite calls from the government to vote against the ban, a solid majority of voters in Switzerland have voted for it, worried, as the article say, by rising immigration, and in particular with a rise of the numbers of Islam followers.

This is interesting because it's one of the few times on which voters in an European country had the possibility of voting on something concerning Islam and muslim immigrants in particular.

What do you think of this vote? Is a ban on minarets fair? Can it be considered as religious discrimination?

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

Switzerland is one of the whitest countries in the world, this is just knee-jerk reactions by closet racists, and the un-informed masses no doubt stired to rage by reactionary papers, perhaps some swiss version of the Daily Mail.

[Pickle_mole]

Switzerland is one of the whitest countries in the world, this is just knee-jerk reactions by closet racists, and the un-informed masses no doubt stired to rage by reactionary papers, perhaps some swiss version of the Daily Mail.

So they should wait until its half arabian, then they would have the excuse to pass this? its called being proactive to protect ones culture, the arabs themselves do it.

But how is Christianity "right" and how is Islam "wrong"?

Throwing a pretty hefty question there, but enlighten me

The "west" arose in a Christian society, modern Arabia arose in a muslim society. Anyone who is honest can tell that islam is inherently backward and brutal to fellow humans. now all religions have had bad things done in their name but no major religion commands those horrible things to be done except islam.




here comes the inevitable verse battle...

[Simon Cashmere]

Switzerland is one of the whitest countries in the world, this is just knee-jerk reactions by closet racists, and the un-informed masses no doubt stired to rage by reactionary papers, perhaps some swiss version of the Daily Mail.

How about we let the people decide? That's what democracy is supposed to be about.

What race is Islam again? What race is a minaret again?

[alhoon]

Switzerland is one of the whitest countries in the world, this is just knee-jerk reactions by closet racists...

Hey! They're not closet racists! They openly try to ban Minarets as signs of islamification. No excuses, no hypocrisy, I give them that. They just admit they don't like muslims.

[godol shmok]

It coulde be that this is left versus right, maybe unintended, maybe intended. Heck, I have no idea, but why not?

[removeduser_487563287433]

It coulde be that this is left versus right, maybe unintended, maybe intended.

That's an oversimplification (when is it not?). Many prominent left-wingers supported this campaign, and conversely many right wingers opposed it, for fear of it damaging business (the Swiss earn £10 bn a year from muslim countries).

[godol shmok]

That's an oversimplification (when is it not?). Many prominent left-wingers supported this campaign, and conversely many right wingers opposed it, for fear of it damaging business (the Swiss earn £10 bn a year from muslim countries).

The support for the campaign came mainly from conservative centrists. The yes votes distribute probably on a broader specturum. That is certainly correct. It is an oversimplification from my side without doubt. I just want to mention it because it could be a factor in the political analysis. Everything else said is certainly valid, too.

[danzig]

Switzerland is one of the whitest countries in the world, this is just knee-jerk reactions by closet racists, and the un-informed masses no doubt stired to rage by reactionary papers, perhaps some swiss version of the Daily Mail.

Their country, their choice...its stupid and childish, as stupid and childish as us not being able to enter mecca but oh well. And no it doesnt have to be racist, it can be a bit of xenophobia or a "not in my backyard" type of thinking but you cant just outright dismiss it and play the race card here. Especially since Islam is not a race....there are many white muslims.

[Salvatorel]

Democracy is a rule of majority and therefore in real democracy the will of majority is above all. so I really can't criticize Swiss for this move.

[Last Roman]

Democracy is a rule of majority and therefore in real democracy the will of majority is above all. so I really can't criticize Swiss for this move.

sure you can. just because it's the "will of the majority" doesn't mean said will is right or correct.

personally, I'm not really sure what to think. I can't imagine Switzerland has any great dealings with Muslim countries or a large Muslim population so I can't foresee any great backlash, but it is clearly religious discrimination.

[Francebunkerer]

personally, I'm not really sure what to think. I can't imagine Switzerland has any great dealings with Muslim countries or a large Muslim population, but it is clearly religious discrimination.

The muslim population is estimated at about 400,000, the total population is 7.7 million, giving rougly 5%.

[Tiberios]

Democracy is a rule of majority and therefore in real democracy the will of majority is above all. so I really can't criticize Swiss for this move.

I agree. It is stupid, but the majority has spoken.

[eisenkopf]

Democracy is a rule of majority and therefore in real democracy the will of majority is above all. so I really can't criticize Swiss for this move.

The will of the majority is above the rights of minorities? You might want reconsider your statement. You are not talking about democracy, you are talking about the tyranny of the majority.


This is a sad day for Switzerland. They also repelled by a large margin an initiative that wanted to forbid exports of weapons. Although making up only a tiny fraction of the country's exports, the Swiss chose little money and few jobs over morality. Again.


These days, two things seem to rule people's minds:

Money. And fear.

It's disgusting.

[blackwatersix]

The will of the majority is above the rights of minorities?

Well yes, in effect a democracy is a tyranny of the majority, the only way it isn't is if the majority decides to put safeguards in place for the sensibilities of the minority, safeguards that it can repeal. Any which way you look at it a democracy in theory is always a tyranny of the majority.

Are their rights being trampled? They still have their civil rights, their human rights- they can worship Allah, they can live and work in Switzerland. And most of all, they're not being forced to stay in Switzerland.

[Monarchist]

These days, two things seem to rule people's minds:

Money. And fear.

It's disgusting.

It has been like that since the Fall from the Garden. Don't be so dramatic. You know human beings have always been about greed and fear. We are all sinners. Is it such a shocker?

,so you want to destroy all non-Christian religions?

Yes, I do! If I saw a man standing in Central Park saying "two and two make five", I'd want to correct him so he won't be lying to people anymore. Just as in that example, if I see a man preaching Islam, I would challenge him with the truth of Jesus. Isn't that the point of believing in your religion: yours is right, and the others are wrong? I'm not one of those iffy religious people who is fine with others believing what I see as nonsense. I want them to go to Heaven, and to experience the true light of the Trinity in joy and happiness. Islam doesn't sound very happy-making or true to me, so I oppose its spread.

[Justice and Mercy]

Democracy is a rule of majority and therefore in real democracy the will of majority is above all. so I really can't criticize Swiss for this move.

We can't criticize the Swiss for "this move" because the majority of the Swiss think it's okay?

Well, there's an easy loophole in this whole "morality" thing after all.

[blackwatersix]

We can't criticize the Swiss for "this move" because the majority of the Swiss think it's okay?

Criticism okay, condemnation not okay. It IS a democracy, and people have the right to do things we find distasteful. Respect for free democracies means that we respect the decision of the sovereign Swiss people with their laws, especially if those laws themselves adhere to the principles of freedom and democracy.

[godol shmok]

The more the swiss government gets now under pressure, the more probable it is in the near future that they are going to lose popular elections. We all know, the swiss are anti-governmental probably since the folding of the Alps.

[Justice and Mercy]

Criticism okay, condemnation not okay.

Umm, you do know that when I say that I'm God I'm not being serious right? I'm not condemning anybody to anything.

Respect for free democracies means that we respect the decision of the sovereign Swiss people with their laws,

That's great.

I don't respect democracy, and this thread is an excellent example of why I don't respect democracy.

especially if those laws themselves adhere to the principles of freedom and democracy.

Oh, these laws adhere to the principle of freedom?