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| Switzerland votes on minaret ban | Switzerland votes on minaret ban |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Swiss voters are going to the polls to decide on a proposal to ban the building of minarets in their country. | |
| The proposal is backed by the Swiss People's Party, the largest party in parliament, and by Christian groups. | The proposal is backed by the Swiss People's Party, the largest party in parliament, and by Christian groups. |
| They say minarets would be the first sign of the Islamisation of Switzerland. | They say minarets would be the first sign of the Islamisation of Switzerland. |
| The Swiss government is urging voters to reject a ban. There are 400,000 Muslims in Switzerland, and just four minarets across the country. | The Swiss government is urging voters to reject a ban. There are 400,000 Muslims in Switzerland, and just four minarets across the country. |
| Islam is the most widespread religion after Christianity, but it remains relatively hidden. | Islam is the most widespread religion after Christianity, but it remains relatively hidden. |
| There are unofficial Muslim prayer rooms, and planning for new minarets is almost always refused. | There are unofficial Muslim prayer rooms, and planning for new minarets is almost always refused. |
| The proposal is for a one-line addition to the Swiss constitution, stating that the construction of minarets is forbidden. | The proposal is for a one-line addition to the Swiss constitution, stating that the construction of minarets is forbidden. |
| Supporters of a ban claim allowing minarets would represent the growth of an ideology and a legal system - Sharia law - which are incompatible with Swiss democracy. | Supporters of a ban claim allowing minarets would represent the growth of an ideology and a legal system - Sharia law - which are incompatible with Swiss democracy. |
| I have a real problem with Islam, with the Islamic law, with the political and legal aspect of this religion Oskar FreysingerSwiss member of parliament Pointed argument | I have a real problem with Islam, with the Islamic law, with the political and legal aspect of this religion Oskar FreysingerSwiss member of parliament Pointed argument |
| Opinion polls ahead of the vote are close, with signs that a small majority would reject the ban. | Opinion polls ahead of the vote are close, with signs that a small majority would reject the ban. |
| That would be a relief to the Swiss government which fears banning minarets would cause unrest among the Muslim community, and damage Switzerland's relations with Islamic countries. | That would be a relief to the Swiss government which fears banning minarets would cause unrest among the Muslim community, and damage Switzerland's relations with Islamic countries. |
| Amnesty International has warned that the ban would violate Switzerland's obligations to freedom of religious expression. | Amnesty International has warned that the ban would violate Switzerland's obligations to freedom of religious expression. |
| Swiss Muslim Elham Manea points to the recent construction of Sikh temples and Serbian Orthodox churches and says a ban just on minarets is discriminatory. | Swiss Muslim Elham Manea points to the recent construction of Sikh temples and Serbian Orthodox churches and says a ban just on minarets is discriminatory. |
| "If you are telling me that we are going to ban all religious symbols from all religious buildings, I would not have a problem with that. | "If you are telling me that we are going to ban all religious symbols from all religious buildings, I would not have a problem with that. |
| "But if you are just telling me that we are going to target only the Muslims, not the Christians, not the Jews, not the Sikhs, only the Muslims, then I have a problem with it because it is discrimination." | "But if you are just telling me that we are going to target only the Muslims, not the Christians, not the Jews, not the Sikhs, only the Muslims, then I have a problem with it because it is discrimination." |
| Muslim respect | Muslim respect |
| Most of Switzerland's Muslims come from former Yugoslavia, and there is no history of Islamic extremism, but supporters of a ban say minarets are far more than religious architecture. | Most of Switzerland's Muslims come from former Yugoslavia, and there is no history of Islamic extremism, but supporters of a ban say minarets are far more than religious architecture. |
| They claim allowing them would be a sign that Islamic law is accepted in Switzerland. | They claim allowing them would be a sign that Islamic law is accepted in Switzerland. |
| Member of parliament Oskar Freysinger rejects the charge of discrimination. | Member of parliament Oskar Freysinger rejects the charge of discrimination. |
| "The Muslims as normal human beings are worth my respect - it is not a problem. | "The Muslims as normal human beings are worth my respect - it is not a problem. |
| "I have a real problem with Islam, with the Islamic law, with the political and legal aspect of this religion." | "I have a real problem with Islam, with the Islamic law, with the political and legal aspect of this religion." |
| In recent years many countries in Europe have been debating their relationship with Islam, and how best to integrate their Muslim populations. | In recent years many countries in Europe have been debating their relationship with Islam, and how best to integrate their Muslim populations. |
| France focused on the headscarf; in Germany there was controversy over plans to build one of Europe's largest mosques in Cologne. | France focused on the headscarf; in Germany there was controversy over plans to build one of Europe's largest mosques in Cologne. |