Two Muslim organizations are distancing themselves from a planned anti-Islamophobia demonstration tomorrow in Bern.
The Muslim organization umbrella groups FIDS and KIOS have called the ad campaign for the event “unethical” and a “cheap provocation.”
The rally’s organizing group, the Islamic Central Council Switzerland, used what appeared to be yellow stars of David in the ad campaign, reminiscent of those used in Nazi Germany. The stars were used in web videos, as well.
The campaign says, for example, “Do you want Muslim woman to be barred from public swimming pools, because they don’t want to swim with bikinis? … If you don’t want that, meet on October 29, 2011, at the Bundesplatz to say no to Islamophobia and racism.”
Even with the controversy, organizers expect as many as 2,000 people at the event.