News and Analysis on Islam in Europe and North America
Several Muslim and African states have proposed to denounce bans against minaret construction as ‘Islamophobic’ as part of a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on religious defamation. According to Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raphaël Saborit, “in principle Switzerland disagrees with the concept of a resolution devoted to the defamation of religion,” as religious freedom
Several commentators have noted the similarity of Jean-Marie Le Pen’s National Front posters against Islamism in France to those in the anti-minaret campaign in Switzerland in November 2009. Please see the article to compare the images.
According to a “Vox” follow-up survey conducted in Switzerland following the referendum banning minarets, proponents of the ban wanted to make a symbolic gesture against the spread of Islam in Switzerland, however were not rejecting Muslims in Switzerland in general. The survey demonstrated a clear division between right and left-wing voters, 80 percent of whom
According to a “Vox” follow-up survey conducted in Switzerland following the referendum banning minarets, proponents of the ban wanted to make a symbolic gesture against the spread of Islam in Switzerland, however were not rejecting Muslims in Switzerland in general. The survey demonstrated a clear division between right and left-wing voters, 80 percent of whom
Socialist Party mayor of Strasbourg Roland Ries’ private home was vandalized with Islamophobic and “anti-minaret” slogans. In November in the midst of the Swiss minaret banning referendum and controversy, Ries told reporters that there would be “no reason” to impose a similar minaret ban in Strasbourg, particularly for one currently under construction. The vandalism is