Dec 02

World slams Swiss minaret ban as Islamphobic

Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam No Comments »

Muslims worldwide and international organizations including the United Nations have condemned Swiss voters’ approval of a ban on minarets as a manifestation of their “hatred of Muslims.”

The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief at the Office of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR) Asma Jahangir voiced shock on Monday at the outcome of the vote on the initiative to prohibit the construction of minarets in Switzerland.

Written by Henia

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Dec 02

Swiss FM Says Ban on Minarets not against Muslims

Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam 6 Comments »

Swiss Federal Councilor and Foreign Minister Miicheline Calmy-Rey assured ambassadors of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) that the results of the referendum to ban minarets in Switzerland are not directed against Muslims in the country.

Kuwaiti Ambassador to Switzerland Dr. Suhail Khalil Shuhaiber, and dean of the Arab diplomatic corps in Bern, Switzerland, told KUNA that the Swiss foreign minister met yesterday OIC ambassadors accredited to Switzerland to explain that Muslims have the right to all freedoms and those of continuing the building of mosques and performing their Friday prayers in mosques that surpass the 200.

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Dec 02

Swiss Rightwing Plans More Muslim Restrictions

Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam 1 Comment »

After its success in obtaining a legal blanket ban on the construction of mosque minarets, the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) is planning more restrictions on the Muslim minority in the European country.

“Voters gave a strong signal to stop the claim to power by political Islam in Switzerland at the expense of our laws and values,” SVP lawmaker Adrian Amstutz told Swissinfo on Tuesday, December 1.

“Muslims must be spurred to integrate into society.”

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Dec 02

ISESCO Director General Urges Muslim World to Boycott Swiss Consumer and Tourism Products

Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam 3 Comments »

Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), called on Muslim countries to boycott Swiss consumer and tourism products, and withdraw their funds from Swiss banks in response to Sunday’s referendum to ban construction of minarets in Switzerland.

The Swiss anti-minaret vote, Dr Altwaijri explained, shows deep hatred and enmity towards Islam and Muslims.

ISESCO Director General pointed out that banning the construction of minarets is in full contradiction with the international law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on Cultural Diversity and the International Initiative of “Alliance of Civilizations”, adding that it also run counter to the efforts being made at the international level to promote dialogue among religions and cultures and peaceful coexistence among peoples.

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Dec 02

UN Slams ‘Discriminatory’ Swiss Minaret Ban

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The United Nations called Switzerland’s ban on new minarets “clearly discriminatory” and deeply divisive, and the Swiss foreign minister acknowledged Tuesday the government was very concerned about how the vote would affect the country’s image.

U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay said Sunday’s referendum to outlaw the construction of minarets in Switzerland was the product of “anti-foreigner scare-mongering.”

The criticism from Pillay, whose office is based in the Swiss city of Geneva, comes after an outcry from Muslim countries, Switzerland’s European neighbors and human rights watchdogs since 57.5 percent of the Swiss population ratified the ban.

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Dec 02

Danish, Dutch Populist Parties Want Referendums on Minaret Ban

General Problems of Europs Muslims, Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam 32 Comments »

It’s been criticized as an expression of prejudice at odds with European values of tolerance. But in a referendum on November 29, Swiss voters approved a ban on the building of minarets.

And now populist parties in Denmark and the Netherlands say they want referendums, too. The calls came from two parties known for their tough stances on immigration.

Geert Wilders, head of the Dutch Freedom Party, told the Dutch daily “Volkskrant” that his party “will call upon the government to make a similar referendum possible in the Netherlands.”

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Dec 02

Pan-European Islamic Group Condemns Swiss Minaret Referendum

Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam No Comments »

The Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe (FIOE) denounced Monday the referendum held in Switzerland on Sunday to ban mosque minarets as a “regrettable setback” to human and religious rights.

The Brussels-based FIOE also condemned the fact that civil rights issues are subjected to a referendum and called on the authorities, human rights groups and the civil society in Europe to stand up against this referendum saying it curtails the rights of Muslims in Switzerland to practice their religion.

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Dec 02

Minarets Symbol of Serious Discrimination Aganist Muslims

Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam 26 Comments »

Swiss voters, influenced by unfair advertisement against Muslims, approved a ban on new mosque minarets being built, prompting dismay and anger in the Muslim world at the success of the far-right initiative.

According to Rohama, The referendum to ban the minarets was approved Sunday, Nov 29, by 57.5 percent of voters who cast ballots and in 22 out of the country’s 26 cantons.

Far-right politicians across Europe celebrated the results, while the Swiss government sought to assure the Muslim minority that a ban on minarets was “not a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture.”

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Dec 02

Center for Study of Islam & Democracy Condemns Attack on Freedom of Religion in Swiss

Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam No Comments »

The Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy notes with great concern the recent referendum in Switzerland which according to a majority of the votes will ban the construction of mosque minarets in that country.

According to Rohama, the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy notes with great concern the recent referendum in Switzerland which according to a majority of the votes will ban the construction of mosque minarets in that country.

This development is part of a recent disturbing trend in significant parts of Europe to restrict the religious freedom and self-expression of religious and ethnic minorities, notably of Muslims, who are full citizens of these European countries which otherwise pride themselves on being democratic and tolerant.

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Dec 02

British Muslims Strongly Condemned Minaret Ban

Muslims of England, Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam 100 Comments »

British Muslims have condemned the decision made by Switzerland to ban the building of minarets as a “tragic and deplorable development.

According to Rohama, The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said the Swiss system of putting such decisions to the people in a referendum is “laudable in itself.”

But Sunday’s, Nov 29, result reveals the “extent to which far right racist groups are winning the battle of ideas on the future of Europe,” MCB warned.

The Swiss government said that it opposed the proposal put forward by the Swiss People’s Party, (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which described minarets are a sign of Islamisation, but accepted the decision to ban them.

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Dec 02

EP Greens leader calls Muslims to empty Swiss bank accounts over ban

Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam No Comments »

EP’s Greens group leader called wealthy Muslims to withdraw their money from banks in Switzerland in response to a ban on the construction of minarets.

Greens group leader of the European Parliament called wealthy Muslims to withdraw their money from banks in Switzerland in response to a ban on the construction of minarets in the country.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit, co-president of the Greens in the European Parliament, has called on rich Muslims to empty their bank accounts in Switzerland in retaliation for Sunday’s referendum that bans the construction of minarets in Switzerland.

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Dec 02

Zionist lobby ‘casts long shadow’ on UK

Muslims of England 1 Comment »

The Zionist lobby has leverage in Europe, and most notably in the UK, to influence the major political decision-making process, a political activist says.

Speaking to Al-Alam from the British capital on Tuesday, Hafidh al-Karami said the lobby has a clout with the media and seeks to turn the tide in its own favor.

He said the ultimate target of the Zionist lobby is to change the views of the political elite and get the political parties to give an unflinching support to the occupying regime of Israel through engineering media outlets.

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Dec 02

Swiss vote to ban minarets fuels fear of Islam

Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam No Comments »

It wasn’t meant to go this way. For months we had been told that the efforts to ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland were doomed. The last surveys suggested around 34 percent of the Swiss population would vote for this shocking initiative.

 Last Friday, in a meeting organized in Lausanne, more than 800 students, professors and citizens were in no doubt that the referendum would see the motion rejected, and instead were focused on how to turn this silly initiative into a more positive future.

Writer: Tariq Ramadan

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Dec 02

UN rights slams Swiss minaret ban

Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam No Comments »

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay on Tuesday sharply criticized a Swiss vote banning minarets, condemning a growing wave of “scaremongering” in several countries.

The right-wing proposal for a ban, approved by more than 57 percent of voters in a referendum, was “discriminatory, deeply divisive and a thoroughly unfortunate step for Switzerland to take,” Pillay said.

She warned that it “risks putting the country on a collision course with its international human rights obligations,” because of its discrimination against a single religion.

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Dec 02

World condemns Swiss minaret ban

Muslims of Switzerland, Western of Anti islam 9 Comments »

World opinion has condemned Switzerland for approving a ban on the building of minarets, with neighboring governments attacking “a demonstration of fear-driven prejudice.”

“It’s an expression of quite a bit of prejudice and maybe even fear,” said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose country currently holds the European Union presidency.

“It is clear that it is a negative signal in every way, there’s no doubt about it.”

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Dec 02

CSID Condemns Attack on Freedom of Religion in Switzerland

Muslims of Switzerland 1 Comment »

The Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy notes with great concern the recent referendum in Switzerland which according to a majority of the votes will ban the construction of mosque minarets in that country.

This development is part of a recent disturbing trend in significant parts of Europe to restrict the religious freedom and self-expression of religious and ethnic minorities, notably of Muslims, who are full citizens of these European countries which otherwise pride themselves on being democratic and tolerant.

 We note that the Swiss government to its credit was against this proposal but could not prevail against the incendiary and intolerant rhetoric of the extremist Swiss People’s Party (SVP).

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Dec 02

Amnesty International condemns Islamophobic Swiss vote

Muslims of Switzerland 23 Comments »

Amnesty International has expressed deep regret over the Swiss voters’ approval of a ban on minarets, calling it a violation of religious freedom for Muslims.

“The ‘yes’ vote comes as a surprise and a great disappointment,” David Diaz-Jogeix, Amnesty International’s deputy program director for Europe and Central Asia, said on Monday.

“That Switzerland, a country with a long tradition of religious tolerance and the provision of refuge to the persecuted, should have accepted such a grotesquely discriminatory proposal is shocking indeed,” Diaz stressed.

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Dec 02

Switzerland votes “yes” to minaret ban

Muslims of Switzerland No Comments »

Far-right Swiss politicians rejoice after the majority of voters supported a referendum proposing a ban on the building of minarets in Switzerland.

A clear majority of 57.5 percent of the population and 22 out of 26 cantons (provinces) favored the ban on construction of the symbolic towers — a distinct architectural feature of Islamic mosques from which Muslims are called to prayer.

Far-right politicians pushing for the ban in the past few months have portrayed the minaret as a ’symbol of radicalism,’ but the government officially opposed the ban over concerns that it would harm Switzerland’s image.

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Dec 02

More than 130 Ukrainian Muslims go to Hajj

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In the middle of November millions of Muslims from every corner of the globe go to the Hajj— pilgrimage to the main relic of Islam, the Holy Kaabah in the Blessed city of Makkah. Despite the economic crisis and flu epidemic, this year the delegation of pilgrims goes to Makkah for the performance of the Hajj from different regions of Ukraine in the quantity of 131 persons, among them there are 34 women.

Solemn departure of pilgrims took place at 11:30 on Thursday, November 19, from the Islamic Social Cultural Centre of Kiev.

This year the Council of the Spiritual Managements and Centers of Muslims of Ukraine at the State Committee of Ukraine on affairs of nationalities and religions is engaged in preparation and sending of the Ukrainian pilgrims.

The Council of the Spiritual Managements and Centers of Muslims of Ukraine which representatives co-coordinated the Ukrainian quotas with the Ministry of Affairs of the Hajj of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this summer intends to take henceforth the most active part in the organization of the Hajj for Muslims of Ukraine.

Every believer at least once in a lifetime should perform the Hajj, being the greatest ceremony of worship in Islam.

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Dec 02

Italian Parliament to Attack the Hijab

Muslims of Italy, Western of Anti islam 25 Comments »

The Italian government has written a draft law combating the hijab worn by Muslim women. This draft has been given to the parliament for review.

Italy has joined the ranks of a few other European countries in banning the hijab worn by Muslim women.

This law is being presented as a law to the parliament. The draft law states that wearing the niqab would be considered a crime. Women who wear the niqab in the streets will be arrested, forced to reveal their faces, and given a fine.

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