The director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, expressed concern today at the outcome of the referendum held in Switzerland on Sunday on the ban of the construction of minarets. “A blanket prohibition of minarets is not consistent with OSCE commitments on freedom of religion or belief…
The document relates the view expressed by european Imams and Ministers who met in Vienna in 2006, and that was expressed at a OSCE conference in Cordoba in 2007. The position of these public actors underlines that Islam in Europe is theologically compatible with the principles of democracy, pluralism and human rights. It then focusses…
Islamist militants are becoming more skilled at tailoring their message to specific audiences, including women and children, and Western societies are struggling to find a response. That was the message from a meeting hosted by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) this week, attended by leading experts on Islamist radicalisation. Alexandra Zawadil…
Islamophobia in Switzerland is increasing creeping but steadily. However, according to Omur Orhun, representative of the Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Switzerland, the situation of Muslims in Switzerland is still much better than in many other European countries.
The Minister of Justice, Mariano Fern_ndez Bermejo, hopes the current anti-Islamic trend will not end in the type of persecution experienced by the Jewish community. We can not fall under the temptation of blaming a religious community for the crimes committed in their name. Bermejo’s statements were made during the Intolerance and Discrimination Conference organized…
