An overwhelming rejection of the “minaret initiative” in Switzerland, scheduled for November 29th, would serve as encouragement to all Swiss Muslims. And treating Swiss Muslims as respected and loyal residents would enhance openness and mutual trust in the country. The debate over the integration of the Muslim community into Swiss society is not new and…
Switzerland will hold a referendum on banning the construction of new minarets on November 29 in response to a petition for a popular vote on the issue, the government said. A group of politicians from the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and Federal Democratic Union gathered enough signatures last year to force the referendum, but the…
The debate over the integration of the Muslim community into Swiss society is not new and has long been the subject of considerable political tension. The most recent controversy is no different and has already fuelled a heated discussion on whether the construction of minarets in Switzerland should be banned. The Democratic Union of the…
Berliners voted Sunday on whether students can take religion instead of compulsory ethics classes. In the end, the referendum failed to attract either enough voters or a majority of those who did vote. Now the proposal’s backers are saying Berlin’s mayor hasn’t been playing fair. It was a referendum that dominated discussion in Berlin for…
A referendum on religion lessons in schools has triggered a fierce debate about how to boost tolerance and improve the integration of the hundreds of thousands of Muslims who live in the German capital. Sunday’s vote may lead to a change in law in the city state of Berlin that would allow pupils to choose…
