This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/12/switzerland-votes-immigrants-citizenship-rights-islamophobia

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Switzerland votes on third-generation immigrants' citizenship rights Swiss vote on third-generation immigrants' citizenship rights
(about 2 hours later)
Switzerland has begun voting on whether to make it easier for third-generation immigrants to become citizens, after a campaign tainted by anti-Muslim messages and charges of religious prejudice.Switzerland has begun voting on whether to make it easier for third-generation immigrants to become citizens, after a campaign tainted by anti-Muslim messages and charges of religious prejudice.
Sunday’s vote is one of four reserved annually for plebiscites on subjects that affect federal as well as local laws and institutions. Sunday’s vote on facilitated naturalisation is one of four reserved annually for plebiscites on subjects that affect federal as well as local laws and institutions.
Voting ends at noon and initial results are expected shortly after. Most people have already voted by post.Voting ends at noon and initial results are expected shortly after. Most people have already voted by post.
The Swiss government and a majority MPs and political parties support the proposal, which would allow the grandchildren of immigrants to skip several steps in the lengthy process of securing a Swiss passport. The Swiss government and a majority of MPs and political parties support the proposal, which would allow the grandchildren of immigrants to skip several steps in the lengthy process of securing a Swiss passport.
But the outcome of the referendum has been clouded by the far-right nationalist Swiss People’s party (SVP), which put Islam and national identity at the centre of the debate. But the outcome of the referendum has been clouded by the rightwing, nationalist Swiss People’s party (SVP), which put Islam and national identity at the centre of the debate.
According to a migration department study, fewer than 25,000 people in the country of about eight million qualify as third-generation immigrants, meaning they have at least one grandparent who was born in Switzerland or acquired residency. According to a migration department study, fewer than 25,000 people in the country of about 8 million qualify as third-generation immigrants, meaning they have at least one grandparent who was born in Switzerland or acquired residency.
Nearly 60% of these are Italian, followed by those from the Balkans or Turkey.Nearly 60% of these are Italian, followed by those from the Balkans or Turkey.
Initial debate on the proposal had nothing to do with religion, said Sophie Guignard of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Bern. But then the SVP, a party repeatedly accused of demonising Islam, that focused on the risks of more Muslims becoming citizens and the possible “loss of Swiss values”, Guignard said. Initial debate on the proposal had nothing to do with religion, said Sophie Guignard of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Bern. But then the SVP, a party repeatedly accused of demonising Islam, focused on the risks of more Muslims becoming citizens and the possible “loss of Swiss values”, Guignard said.
Central to that effort was a widely distributed poster showing a woman staring out from a black niqab with a tagline urging voters to reject “uncontrolled citizenship”. The SVP was not officially responsible for the poster, which was commissioned by the Committee Against Facilitated Citizenship. Though this group has several SVP members in leadership positions. Central to that effort was a widely distributed poster showing a woman staring out from a black niqab with a tagline urging voters to reject “uncontrolled citizenship”. The SVP was not officially responsible for the poster, which was commissioned by the Committee Against Facilitated Citizenship, but the group has several SVP members in leadership positions.
Jean-Luc Addor, co-chair of the committee and SVP lawmaker, urged people to reject the proposal because soon most third-generation immigrants will not be of European origin. Jean-Luc Addor, the co-chair of the committee and SVP lawmaker, urged people to reject the proposal because soon, most third-generation immigrants would not be of European origin.
“In one or two generations, who will these third-generation foreigners be?” he wrote in an opinion piece on the SVP website. “They will be born of the Arab Spring, they will be from sub-Saharan Africa, the Horn of Africa, Syria or Afghanistan,” said Addor, who has defended the niqab poster. “In one or two generations, who will these third-generation foreigners be?” he wrote in an opinion piece on the SVP website. “They will be born of the Arab spring, they will be from sub-Saharan Africa, the Horn of Africa, Syria or Afghanistan,” said Addor, who has defended the niqab poster.
Guignard said mainstream politicians and journalists viewed the poster as “a violent attack against Muslims”.Guignard said mainstream politicians and journalists viewed the poster as “a violent attack against Muslims”.
The SVP in 2009 successfully persuaded Swiss voters to approve a ban on new mosque minaret construction, while religiously charged messages have been a part of multiple referendums on immigration since. In 2009, the SVP successfully persuaded Swiss voters to approve a ban on new mosque minaret construction, while religiously charged messages have been a part of subsequent immigration referendums.
Latest polls show that between 55-66% of people support easier citizenship for third-generation immigrants, with 31-44% against. Latest polls show that between 55% and 66% of people support easier citizenship for third-generation immigrants, with 31-44% against.
The no side has, however, gained about 10 percentage points since polling opened, with analysts saying an upset cannot be ruled out.The no side has, however, gained about 10 percentage points since polling opened, with analysts saying an upset cannot be ruled out.