GENEVA (YBH.ME) – Voters in Switzerland today banned future construction of mosques with minarets atop them. The vote, approved by Swiss voters with a 57.5% majority, does nothing to discriminate against the practice of Islam itself. The 4 mosques in Switzerland with minarets currently are not affected.
An anti-Islam ad in Switzerland.
Supporters of the initiative asserted that the minaret is not just a symbol of Islam but also “a sign of political power and demand, comparable with whole-body covering by the burqa, tolerance of forced marriage and genital mutilation of girls.”
Amnesty International said that the vote would most likely be reversed by the Swiss Supreme Court or the European Court of Human Rights.
Opinion polls taken just ten days ago showed the initiative failing by a wide margin. Experts believe that people participating in the poll my have changed their answer out of fear of reprisal from Muslims, or so as to not seem intolerant to the pollster.
The minaret’s presence has been a flash point in many European countries as Muslims gain a foothold in Western Europe. Mosque projects in France, Italy and Germany have also met with protests.
Muslim groups throughout Switzerland denounced the vote. It’s important to note that many Muslim countries, such as Saudi Arabia, not only ban Christian churches but legally forbid the practice of any religion besides Islam.
