Will rising "Christian fundamentalism" in Europe undermine fundamental human rights?

(Report by the BBC ) Swiss voters have supported a referendum proposal to ban the building of minarets, official results show.

More than 57% of voters and 22 out of 26 cantons - or provinces - voted in favour of the ban. The proposal had been put forward by the Swiss People's Party, (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which says minarets are a sign of Islamisation. The government opposed the ban, saying it would harm Switzerland's image, particularly in the Muslim world.

But Martin Baltisser, the SVP's general secretary, told the BBC: "This was a vote against minarets as symbols of Islamic power."

The BBC's Imogen Foulkes, in Bern, says the surprise result is very bad news for the Swiss government which fears unrest among the Muslim community. Our correspondent says voters worried about rising immigration - and with it the rise of Islam - have ignored the government's advice.

In a statement, the government said it accepted the decision. It said: "The Federal Council (government) respects this decision. Consequently the construction of new minarets in Switzerland is no longer permitted."

This will cause major problems because during this campaign mosques were attacked, which we never experienced in 40 years in Switzerland
Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said: "Concerns [about Islamic fundamentalism] have to be taken seriously. "However, a ban on the construction of new minarets is not a feasible means of countering extremist tendencies." She sought to reassure Swiss Muslims, saying the decision was "not a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture".

Switzerland is home to some 400,000 Muslims and has just four minarets. After Christianity, Islam is the most widespread religion in Switzerland, but it remains relatively hidden.

There are unofficial Muslim prayer rooms, and planning applications for new minarets are almost always refused.

Supporters of a ban claimed that allowing minarets would represent the growth of an ideology and a legal system - Sharia law - which are incompatible with Swiss democracy.

But others say the referendum campaign incited hatred.

continue reading the report on the BBC's website

Interkulti's Comment:

First question which comes to ones mind after reading this dreadful piece of news is this: Does this  outcome in the referendum also mean that the majority of voters oppose the freedom of religion as a fundamental human right , one which has to be also guaranteed  for the minority? If yes, then the nect question  would simply be this: What happened to democracy if the majority think s that democracy and the attached human rights values "cherised" in the west are not to be granted hereby to the minority in the Swiss Federation..

Flashback: Article 18 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.

2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.

3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

4. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.

In the context of building of minarets in the Swiss Federation, the inevitable legal question is this: Can the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (and thus the right to build minarets) mentioned in the first paragraph of the article ever constitue the kind of danger that would make it necessary to protect public safety, public order, health or morals or fundamental rights of others mentioned in the third paragraph? We submt that it clearly cannot.

And probably this is what a European Court of Human Rights would rule if and when the case comes to its attention.

ARTICLE 9 of the European convention on Human Rights states that :

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
2. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. (see Convention here)

Was it worth it?

Apart from the fact that building minarets is not dangerous for society, what will this decision bring? will there be less muslims out there?

The other question crossing ones mind (Was it worthwhile?) would probably have to be answered by the Swiss voters themselves, if and when wealthy  Muslim countries of the world will decide to remove their assets from the Swiss Banks. It  might turn out to be a bad choice.  Of course, this is not likely to happen, however, negative sentiments generated by this  decision will have some effect on the relations of the Swiss with the muslim world. But even if this vote doesnt cost the Swiss any fnancial loss, a moral loss is sure to come about, as the wave of condemnation from the Muslim world will ensue. Condemnation is surely expected also from all the true believers of the fundamental rights of humanity on this planet.

The shame will be heavier on the Swiss when any law or regulation based on this democratically produced desicion will be quashed by the European Court of human Rights, since it is a flagrant violation of all values and human rights principles you have heared about in the West.

Obviously, the real ones to blame for this vote are not really the Swiss average voters,  but those who drove them to this artificial man made paranoia: All those inciting against Islam to further their own profit driven interests. Clearly, the mainstream media is also gravely responsible, as it is constantly preoccupied with fearmongering and spreading of deliberate faulse information  (eg. Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, Iranian time bomb, Palestinian terrorists in Gaza), all destined to frighten the hell out of western consumers when anything resembling "Islam" or "Muslims" crosses their way in life. (As opposed to "way of life", which is pretty much the same as we all know: eating, drinking and the rest of biology).

Had oil rich countries been part of the KuKuLu religion, most probrably that faith would also be hated as hell in the western world today.

The age of colonialism is not over yet it seems, and this decision bears the blueprint of western arrogance at the hight of its imperial ambitions. Its also a black day for the Swiss Federation, and a sad day for all of use who are trying to fight racism and fanatisicm.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment