Swiss Ban on Minarets
The Al-Jazeera (http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/12/200912142216681985.html) and the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/opinion/01Tue3.html?th&emc=th) today reported that Switzerland in a referendum vote backed a constitutional ban on the construction of new minarets.
The ban on the minaret in Zurich again demonstrates how hateful and xenophobic the Europeans are. And this is happening in a place which for decades has been considered to be a neutral progressive country, away from nasty politics of Europe and America. Through this ban, the ugly face of Europe is unmasked once again for all to see. They talk about human rights and freedom of religious practices, but all such talks are hollow and hypocritical. Bangladesh can teach these hypocrites a thing or two about religious pluralism.
Many years ago, when I was writing a piece on European racism, my research brought to my attention the fact that in Greece there was no single Masjid. Government there had not allowed construction, so most of the Muslims were forced to use basements or halls to pray. And yet these same guys would tell you that we should allow for a temple or church in Saudi Arabia where there is not a single non-Muslim citizen. As to the rest of the Arab world, there are many temples and churches everywhere. And compare that to Switzerland where the Muslim population is estimated to be 6%. Only a hypocrite can ask about a church in Makkah and Medina with absolute zero percent Christian population while denying the same right to 6% Muslims who are citizens.
I am not surprised by the Swiss reaction. Switzerland is no different than Sarkozy's France or any other European nation.
The ban on the minaret in Zurich again demonstrates how hateful and xenophobic the Europeans are. And this is happening in a place which for decades has been considered to be a neutral progressive country, away from nasty politics of Europe and America. Through this ban, the ugly face of Europe is unmasked once again for all to see. They talk about human rights and freedom of religious practices, but all such talks are hollow and hypocritical. Bangladesh can teach these hypocrites a thing or two about religious pluralism.
Many years ago, when I was writing a piece on European racism, my research brought to my attention the fact that in Greece there was no single Masjid. Government there had not allowed construction, so most of the Muslims were forced to use basements or halls to pray. And yet these same guys would tell you that we should allow for a temple or church in Saudi Arabia where there is not a single non-Muslim citizen. As to the rest of the Arab world, there are many temples and churches everywhere. And compare that to Switzerland where the Muslim population is estimated to be 6%. Only a hypocrite can ask about a church in Makkah and Medina with absolute zero percent Christian population while denying the same right to 6% Muslims who are citizens.
I am not surprised by the Swiss reaction. Switzerland is no different than Sarkozy's France or any other European nation.
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