The Swiss don't like minarets

I'd have put money on there being a thread about this already. But there isn't. I may have misjudged some of you.

Anyway, what do we think about this:

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.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8385069.stm

Play nicely please.

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Even the Swiss governement themselves were worried about having to enforce this referundum. Bearing in mind that most, if not all, planning applications for minarets have been turned down (there are only 4 in the whole country) I don't see why there was a need for a referundum in the first place. Personally I don't think it sends a positive message to the 400,000 muslims living there.

ps - I too was wondering how long this topic would appear as a thread. The fact that it was you that started it Chris did suprise me lol. I was expecting someone else to start one and rant about how the governemnet here are too weak and spineless to suggest that in the UK, damn human rights, bloody immigrants etc etc etc.

[Kymmy]

I wonder if although the initial push behind the ban was the SVp I wonder if the publics thoughts were more about Switzerland being a counry that depends a lot on tourism as most don't want the perfect swiss vista's ruined by the inclusion of a load of towers..


We all know that the publics viewpoint can be nothing to do with the goverments viewpoint

[punky]

ps - I too was wondering how long this topic would appear as a thread. The fact that it was you that started it Chris did suprise me lol.

Normally because whenever someone does there will always be people to jump up and attack them for it.

I did consider starting the thread myself or even replying in this thread, but its just really isn't worth the aggro.

Let's just say I hope that I have started the thread in a sufficiently neutral fashion to enable an adult debate about an important political and social issue to unfold. And let's also be clear that I will be actively moderating it if it doesn't.

Now, enough about forum politics, let's get on and discuss the issue at hand.

[soicky]

Great idea to stop radicalization of youth.

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8385893.stm

It seems that the Vatican aren't too happy with the decision too. What I did find suprising after reading this was how the article described Islam in Switzerland as being practised 'behind closed doors'.

[Gary L]

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

I can see what he's saying. just supposing we did go to war against Islam either soon or some time in the future, and we got all these symbols that they will later declare as their symbols of power.

How do you go to war against a religion though? And what power do the symbols represent?

[papa smurf]

the people have spoken and that's that ,obviously you cant please everyone in a vote.

It appears to me that the result of the referendum speaks for itself .The Swiss people obviously don't want Muslims architecture dotted all over the landscape that they protect ferociously.My understanding of the purpose of minarets is to call Muslims to prayer, (please correct if wrong)we have one here in Newcastle built about 5 years ago which is only ornamental , so really they aren't needed any more.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Chris

How do you go to war against a religion though? And what power do the symbols represent?

no fear of heights

Originally Posted by Chris

I'd have put money on there being a thread about this already. But there isn't. I may have misjudged some of you.

I saw it on the BBC website yesterday while reading something else, and like you Chris, was surprised it wasn't posted before this. I thought about making a thread in relation to this, but discarded it after a nanosecond of thought on the subject....

[Taf]

Do muslims NEED minarets in order to worship their god?

Or are they merely to allow broadcasting to all and sundry their call to prayers several times a day?

They don't need them, according to a number of people phoning in to Jeremy Vine on R2 this afternoon - but it's a traditional part of the architecture of the building. A church building doesn't need a spire or a tower either, but (in this country at least) whether the building has one is a matter for the building's designers, coupled with any local planning concerns. Not a national opinion poll called at the behest of a minorty political party stuffed with closet fascists.