In the News

Curtail of Religious Freedom?

This week, a referendum vote in Switzerland resulted in a ban on the building of new minarets. While the vote did not have the support of the Swiss government, officials were quick to argue that the vote was not aimed at Muslims, but Islamic fundamentalism.

Critics across the country and throughout the world however united in condemning the vote. Farhad Afshar, leader of the Swiss Coordination of Islamic Organisations was quoted as saying, "The most painful thing for us is not the ban on minarets, but the symbol sent by this vote.” Leaders from more militant Islamic groups such as the Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's biggest Muslim group, were harsher in its criticism stating, "This is the hatred of Swiss people against Muslim communities. They do not want to see a Muslim presence in their country and this intense dislike has made them intolerant.”