Apparently the Swiss voted to ban the construction of minarets on Islamic masjids. This is completely unjustifiable and has no plausible explanation other than bigotry and hatred. When the populous of a country sets out to restrict and oppress the free expression of one religion and one religion only that is intolerable, unacceptable and completely inexcusable. Just as Muslims must tolerate other religions and their beliefs and learn to assimilate and live in non-Muslim countries it is also incumbent upon non-Muslim countries to treat Muslims with respect. This Swiss movement to ban minarets by popular vote is simply the latest outrage in an ongoing campaign by some in Switzerland to spread Islamophobia which included the following signs of tolerance: campaign posters showing white sheep kicking a black sheep off the Swiss flag and another with brown hands grabbing eagerly for Swiss passports. Also apparently not simply content with voting for Islamophobic constitutional amendments some vandal decided to desecrate the main masjid in Geneva last Thursday. Switzerland used to play on its image of tolerance apparently this image was merely a smoke screen masking the ugly face of intolerance.
It is tempting for people who do not like Islam for a litany of reasons to simply dismiss this as irrelevant or inconsequential. However, it is important to remember that basic disregard for the freedoms of any individual is a dangerous erosion of the freedoms of all people. If a majority of people can get together and vote away fundamental rights based on whims and passing fancy then it might not be long before all religious freedoms are crushed under the boot of secular disdain. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right guaranteed to us by the grace of God not to be taken lightly or abridged, abbreviated or amended by the laws of mere men.
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