13 March 2011
Two of Switzerland’s largest Muslim federations have announced their plans to found a new religious organization with the goal of representing all Muslims in Switzerland. According to the president of the Federation of Swiss Islamic Organizations (FIDS) Hisham Maizar, the new organization is to be called the “Swiss Umma,” and will be formed together with the Coordination of Islamic Organizations in Switzerland (KIOS).
Maizar stated as well that another of the main goals would be to improve the image of Islam in Switzerland. The two organizations plan to create a type of parliament, whose members would be voted in by the 400 000 Muslims in Switzerland. The first election is planned for the beginning of 2012 at the latest, while a commission has already been established so as to ensure that the statutes of the new organization are in accordance with both Islamic and Swiss public law.
