The Swiss referendum calling for a ban on the building of mosques with minarets is unlikely to make it into law. This is the view of the human rights group Amnesty International.
Nicole Sprokel from the Dutch arm of Amnesty says she does not expect the ban on minarets to become law as it contravenes the Swiss constitution:
“It is a violation of religious freedom of course, but it also discriminates because the measure affects one group.”
Ms Sprokel thinks Switzerland’s own legislation will prevent the ban from being introduced. If that doesn’t happen she says the matter could be taken to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
More than 57 percent of those taking part in the referendum voted in favour of the so-called “anti-minaret initiative”.
This means a ban on the construction of mosques with a tower will be introduced. In its first response the Swiss government said it was shocked and disappointed, but would respect the result.
The result of the referendum was a surprise because polls indicated a slight majority against the proposal. Jacques Waardenburg, Islam expert at the University of Lausanne says it’s mainly Muslims in Switzerland who are surprised by the result.
“No Muslim thought that there would be such a majority. It must have shocked them.”
Intolerance
The referendum was requested by the populist right-wing parties. The Swiss People’s Party (SVP), Switzerland’s biggest political party since 2007, led the campaign saying minarets are a symbol of religious imperialism and Islamic intolerance.
The government and church organisations had urged people to vote against the proposal. Once the result was announced, the Swiss government hastily added that Muslims would be able to continue practising their religion. Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf is concerned that the ban will play into the hands of radical Muslims rather than reduce Islamic influence. The Swiss government fears that it “could damage Switzerland’s image as a tolerant country”.
“Splendid result”
There have been angry reactions to the referendum from Islamic countries. In response to the result, the influential Grand Mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa, who interprets Islamic legislation on behalf of the Egyptian government, says “it is not just an attack on religious freedom, but it is also an attempt to insult the Muslim community”.
There has been no official reactions from the Netherlands. However, the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party, Geert Wilders has congratulated Switzerland on a “splendid result”. He thinks the result of the Swiss referendum is a good example for the Netherlands.
Four percent van the Swiss population is Muslim. There are only four minarets in the country. Of more than 100 mosques in the country, the vast majority are located in old office buildings. Up to now Switzerland has been known as a pragmatic and tolerant country in regard to immigration, but in recent years the immigration debate has become increasingly fierce.