What Does The Swiss Minaret Ban Tell Us About Europe ?
Swiss Minaret Ban
Switzerland has decided to ban the building of any new minarets. For many in the political classes both inside Switzerland and further a field across Europe the result of the referendum comes as a shock.
I for one was in no way shocked. As a Muslim who has lived most of his life in Europe I know intimately the European capacity for hatred of Islam. Already the damage limitation exercise has begun.
From the higher echelons the Swiss Justice Ministry word is coming out that the ban may be illegal:
“The Swiss justice minister also said the European Court of Human Rights could strike down the Sunday vote, which incurred swift condemnation at home and abroad for banning the towers used to put out the Islamic call to prayer…..
…Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said the ban would come into force immediately, but indicated that it could be overturned.
“The ban contradicts the European Convention on Human Rights,” Zurich daily Blick cited Widmer-Schlumpf as saying.” {Source: Ynet News}
Legal or illegal the ban allows the outside world and particularly the Muslim world to see how the European masses view their Muslim citizenry.
It is has always been my contention that the current relationship between the west and the Muslim world is made up of a far more organic hatred than just the western reaction to Muslim terrorism.
It’s my contention that western hatred of Islam pre-dates modern Islamic terrorism or cold war alliances or even imperialist western aggression but to something more fundamental. How else can the Swiss ban be explained, if not by hatred of Islam ? I do not see the Swiss rushing to ban synagogues or Hindu and Buddhist temples or Christian churches. Why is that only mosque minarets were targeted ?
As the Swiss ban shows us, European populations( no matter how much their political masters would like us to believe) are not ready to live with Muslims as equal citizens. For all the cries and tears of equal treatment under the law the Swiss have shown us that in Europe all citizens are equal but some citizens are more equal than others.
And another thing please don’t think that the Swiss ban was a flash in the pan. Given half the chance most, if not all, European electorates would vote to institute the same prohibition.
In answer to the question What does the Swiss minaret ban tell us about Europe ? The answer must be that the vote shows us a lot more about European hypocrisy than it ever does about the minarets that they want banned in the first place.
Post Script: considering the result of the vote one would have thought that Switzerland would be over run with minarets popping out of very building. The reality is a little more mundane. For a population of 400,000 Muslims Switzerland has a whopping 4 minarets.
image by Middle East Online.
Also see Christian Churches In Muslim Countries- A Blatant Western Lie Exposed.
Popularity: 5% [?]
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December 2nd, 2009 at 00:40
Europe is allowing muslims to shape its policies even banning Christmas and Crucifixes in order not to “offend” muslims, yet you call Europeans hypocrites? Go back to your muslim countries if you want to awake to the noise of the muezzin’s wails.
December 2nd, 2009 at 01:02
oh and btw, regarding your entry about Churches in Arabia (the whole peninsular not just the country), the 1st and only church ever to be build in Qatar WON’T HAVE A BELFRY (Christian “minaret”) nor any cross visible from the exterior. I guess that’s what muslims would call “reciprocity”, thousands of mosques in Europe and North America but only one church in the entire Arabian Peninsular. Muslim Hypocrite.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3549158.ece
December 2nd, 2009 at 01:11
“Western Hypocrite” have I upset you ? If you want to ban minarets and mosques its no skin off my nose. Its your continent do what ever you like. However its amusing to see that a few lines from unintelligent Muslim blogger have set you off on one…. best wishes.
December 5th, 2009 at 12:03
Switzerland is entitled to prohobit MINARETS (MOSQUES are not and will not be prohibited).
Countries in the middle east prohibit CHURCHES entirely. Saudi Arabia prohibits churches and christian worship is a crime even if done in your own home.
Saudi Arabia is the recognized center of Islam, religiously as well as politically, the Saudi king is one of the most frequently used political brokers in the middle east. It is the hub of the Arab world.
In comparison,
Switzerland is a tiny territory which does not represent anyone and is not even an EU member.
The moslem world defininitely has a bigger problem with minorities that the west does.
December 5th, 2009 at 14:50
@Pete thanks for commenting.
I completely agree with your statement that the Swiss are entitled to make their own laws. I have no problem with this, if they want to ban minarets that is up to them. You are also right that mosques will not be banned. Having said that there are a few factual mistakes in your comment. Lets take each of our points in turn you said :
(i) “Countries in the middle east prohibit CHURCHES entirely” – this is entirely incorrect. There are Christian populations throughout the Middle East and the wider Muslim world, as such there are chruches in these countries see http://bit.ly/82tAoX for more information.
(ii) “Saudi Arabia prohibits churches and christian worship is a crime even if done in your own home” – You are right Saudi Arabia does ban churches but your incorrect to say that private worship even in one’s home is criminalised. This is factually incorrect.
(iii) While Saudi Arabia carries a great of importance for the west as being the home of Islam for the average Muslim this importance is over played. The only time that an average Muslim will have contact with anything Saudi is when he/she goes to visit Mecca or Medinah. The role of Saudi as being the heart of the Muslim world, poltically, economically and socially is very much over played.
(iv) “Switzerland is a tiny territory which does not represent anyone and is not even an EU member.” – You are right Switzerland is not a part of the European Union. If I were a betting man, I am sure I would not loose any money, if I wagered that similar referendum held in any EU nation state would not garner the same result.
(v) “The moslem world definitely has a bigger problem with minorities that the west does.” I am not saying that the Muslim world is better than the west. The Muslim world for the most part is illiterate and backward therefore its bigotry has a context. What excuse does the advanced west have for it’s bigotry and hate ?
December 19th, 2009 at 13:37
As a Christian and resident in Europe, I want to apologize for my fellow europeans hate and bigotry. I personally hold very high regard for my own countries’ ground law, which promises fredom and freedom of religion to everyone, as every civilized country should.
Im dissapointed, as I had always thought Switzerland was a civilized country as well.
I want to stress, that we arent all muslim hating bigots. Just a very loud part of the western populace, brought up mostly by ignorance and blindly accepting and believing what anti-islam groups (like our own local NAZI party – now called the PVV) want them to believe about the Kuran and muslims.
Isnt it about time we stopped looking at *what* people are, but at *who* people are?
We have no excuse for bigotry and hate.
December 21st, 2009 at 20:16
@Arnold Noppers I thank you for your sentiments and acknowledge whole heartedly there are many good people in the west. They are fair minded and will always try to uphold the law and freedoms irrespective prejudice.
June 3rd, 2010 at 12:18
In my life I have never seen a good Muslim, and I live in India, how does one looks like?
All of them are either criminals doing crimes ranging from forced prostitution, local hooligans, to kidnapping, murder, organised crime, support to Terrorists and direct Terrorism.
Muslims have formed organistions like SIMI and Indian Mujahideen and killing innocent Hindus for no reason, just bcoz they r not Muslims.What do u call it.
They live lavish lifestyles- cricketers, stars, bussinesmen.Yet they find it good to kill Hindus.Muslim colleges get 95% Govt Aid, they get Subsidy on Hajj. Yet they can’t live peacefully.
They just hate the non-muslims they call kafirs
June 3rd, 2010 at 18:35
Ravi your comment is riddled with just too many inconsistencies.
June 4th, 2010 at 04:49
You can’t digest the truth. The fact is today nearly everybody knows about Islam & its ideology. The “kill a kafir-get heaven” mentality is not hidden to anyone. This is why you people are hated everywhere, and you will never change. Concepts like modernisation, secularism are alien, ‘haram’ thoughts to you and your likes. This is the real problem. Your 7th century religion can’t accomodate in today’s world. You just can’t realise that time has changed. You love to remember those medieval days when you were used to kill the kafirs at your will. Many countries were under islamic rule. You find soloace in that.
The world will change later, first change yourself.
June 6th, 2010 at 14:18
So you say Ravi