I don't support banning things, so obviously I can't support the Swiss decision to ban minarets even though the hand wringing is amusing. As I understand it most Swiss nominal Muslims are from the largely secular European Muslim cultures of Bosnia and Albania in any case, so annoying them for no reason seems pointless at best and vindictive at worst.
It is also trivial, what is more likely to lead to the rise of Islamism- the building of minarets or mass immigration from countries where Islamism is a major force?
That said the whining from various Muslim nations is absurd given their own behaviour towards church building. Egypt has objected to the Swiss ban, this is the same country which has for many years prevented Coptic Christians from building new churches or even repairing existing ones. No doubt the Saudi royal family will threaten to withdraw their secret bank accounts from Switzerland too.
Still it is impressive how Swiss voters can simply override the wishes of their politicians through referenda.
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Yup, it's called democracy, something we have lost!
Hats off to the Swiss on this one.
As you point out, the Islamic countries ban everything under the sun, why shouldn't Switzerland have a go?
If these Islamic countries didn't ban things like payments of interest, church building, Christian preaching, women driving cars or wearing skirts, alcohol, democratic elections etc, and to want to impose such bans in the Free West as well, then nobody would mind them building minarets in the Free West.
"...even though the hand wringing is amusing. "
Especially in the Guardian! ;)
"As you point out, the Islamic countries ban everything under the sun, why shouldn't Switzerland have a go?"
Because two wrongs don't make a right?
Because Swiss Muslims, most of whom are non-practising, have never banned anything? Because they have nothing to do with what happens in Arab theocracies, certainly far less than rank & file Catholics, for example, have to do with the Vatican?
The only valid argument for this is that it was voted for in a legally binding referendum. I can think of no actual arguments for it on its own merits.
"Hats off to the Swiss on this one. "
Mark, I'd have thought that someone who is as keen on property rights as yourself would object to a national restriction on what people can build on their own land for that reason alone.
"Especially in the Guardian! ;)"
Indeed, they seem most upset by it.
"Because Swiss Muslims, most of whom are non-practising, have never banned anything?"
Yes and I suspect that some of the non practising ones will be tempted to start once this goes ahead.
Mind you, if we had referendum on any issue that got enough signatures then we'd be voting on bloody Jedward instead.
the Swiss people have spoken.
The Muslim people would like to speak in their country.
"Because Swiss Muslims, most of whom are non-practising, have never banned anything? "
If you read the Koran then it should make sense to you. If you give an inch they take a mile. Hopefully this will be a good signal.
I can't imagine Swiss Muslims throwing eggs at Swiss Politicians as happened in Luton on Monday.
Not if they know what is good for them anyway.
Well, what if the Bosnians etc. living in Switzerland ignore the Koran? It deserves to be ignored, let's face it, & I see few if any signs of fundamentalism in Switzerland.
They do make a better job of secularism & integration than us though, but so do most places.
If the Swiss Moslems are so concerned about having a mosque they can always piss off to somewhere that does allow them, like here in UK; oops !
Then there is the Victimhood Poker aspect, the Yes ( ban mosques ) side was supported by the feminists who object to Islams treatment of women and one presumes the Gay community likewise ?
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