Minaret ban contradiction of Swiss ideals

The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) has made the news again after proposing a law against the construction of minarets in mosques in Switzerland. More than 57% of voters, and 22 out of 26 Swiss regions, voted in favour of the ban.

The SVP, a hard-right party, had spread controversial posters all around Switzerland in advance of the vote. They claimed the minarets are a symbol of militant Islam.

The party is known for controversial politics. In 2007, their posters on the voting of a bill about deportation of foreign criminals showed white sheep kicking a black sheep from over the Swiss flag.

SVP is a strong nationalist party, however, Switzerland has and needs immigrants – In a population of 7.5 million, one fifth are foreigners.

The controversy crosses the lines between freedom of belief, freedom of expression and the incitement of hatred and racism.

Switzerland has around 400,000 Muslims and 150 mosques, but only around four mosques have minarets in the country. The posters are definitely inciting an unnecessary hate against minorities, especially foreigners, and the vote goes against the Swiss constitution, which establishes freedom of belief.

The other question relates to the freedom of expression. Does SVP have the right to express their opinion in that way? It brings back the discussion that surrounded the cartoon of Muhammad published in a Danish newspaper in 2005. The cartoon sparked a heated debate and even riots in Muslim countries. People went as far as burning Danish flags. How far can freedom of expression go without inciting hatred and racism? Where is the line?

There has to be some distance when it comes to criticising religion. It involves discussion and critique. Religions are to be debated and criticised. There should not be such a furore when certain religions are caricaturised or criticised.

Most of the problem comes from the rhetoric of the “clash of civilisations” between the Christian-Western countries and the Islamic world. There should be no problem. We are simply different. We have different beliefs. Many Muslims live peacefully in the West.

In the Swiss referendum case of the minarets, it is totally unnecessary to illustrate that matter in such an inflammatory way.

Switzerland is a very liberal and multicultural country. They created the Red Cross, they have one of UN’s headquarters in Geneva and they offer political asylum to thousands of people, many of them Muslims. This law is in contradiction with Swiss ideas, behaviour and political attitude.

Religion is a personal and private matter. It only involves belief. However, when it is criticised, it should not be taken personally. All religions can live together without any clash. It is a shame that it is not like that in our world and religion is used for inciting hatred and provoking wars.