Following a controversial Swiss referendum to ban mosques with minarets, Christian Democratic state interior ministers in Germany on Thursday recommended Muslims show restraint when building houses of worship. “Naturally the Muslims in Germany have a right to build mosques. But they should make sure not to overwhelm the German population with them,” Hessian Interior Minister…
In this editorial French philosopher and writer Abdennour Bidar considers the consequences of the minaret ban for Muslims in France. The culture of fear and of political Islam in particular is of concern, he claims. Bidar points to how both sides can act in reaction in this climate. Please see the article to appreciate the…
Le Figaro interviews CFCM, French Council of the Muslim Faith, president Mohammed Moussaoui on the Swiss minaret ban. Moussaoui explains his surprise and regret with the decision. He claims that unwarranted fear led to the majority vote, and to an extremist vote. He reminds that in France fewer than 2 percent of mosques have minarets….
The minaret ban in Switzerland has had a continentwide response. Even as European human-rights courts began attempts to block the Swiss amendment, extremist politicians across Europe were examining their countries’ laws to see if a similar referendum could be accomplished. Far-right leaders have emerged from the woodwork in places like the Netherlands to push for…
These two articles explain how the National Front has mobilized itself around the minaret ban in Switzerland to “reopen” questions of identity and immigration in France.
