Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at condemns proposed ban on minarets in Switzerland.

The minaret is not a political symbol.


On 29 November 2009 Switzerland will hold a referendum on a proposed
constitutional amendment banning the construction of minarets in the
country. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat believes that any such prohibition
would be a clear example of religious discrimination and would be a direct
breach of Switzerland’s obligations under international human rights law.
The referendum is based upon an initial proposal from the Swiss People’s
Party (SPP) to amend Article 72 of the Constitution by incorporating the
sentence ‘The construction of minarets is forbidden’.


The SPP and its supporters assert that rather than being symbols of
religious significance, minarets are ‘symbols of a religious-political claim
to power and dominance which threatens the constitutional rights of
others.’ This assertion is completely without foundation.


Traditionally the main purpose of a minaret has been to provide a vantage
point for the Muslim call to prayer. The call to prayer can be compared to
the ringing of bells from a church tower because both signify the time for
worship. However out of respect for the local indigenous population, in
most Ahmadi mosques this does not occur and the call to prayer is instead
performed from inside the mosque to minimise disturbance to non-
Muslims. Nonetheless, the minaret continues to play a role as a key
architectural feature of the Islamic faith.


The minaret is not a political symbol or a means to try and dominate
society. In all Ahmadi mosques the true Islamic principles of love, peace
and tolerance are continually exhorted and practiced. Terrorist attacks
continue to be attributed to Islam, yet such attacks are the acts of the
misguided and evil; they are nothing to do with Islam. The Holy Qur’an
explicitly states that ‘There is no compulsion in religion’.


Speaking ahead of the referendum, Abid Khan, the Press Secretary of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat said:


“The provocative nature of the anti-Islamic campaign waged by
those behind the proposed ban has been both inflammatory and
utterly irresponsible. For example, the poster depicting a
burqa-clad woman in front of a thicket of missile shaped
minarets rising out of the Swiss flag can only serve to alienate
rather than enhance mutual understanding.


If minarets were to be banned in Switzerland there is no
question that this would be an infringement of the basic human
rights of Muslims throughout the country and a direct violation
of Articles 18 and 9 of the ICCPR and ECHR respectively, both of
which have been ratified by the Swiss Government. Both of
these articles guarantee the right to manifest one’s religion.”


It is of surprise and concern that the issue of banning minarets has raised
itself so strongly in a country like Switzerland, which has always had a
reputation for peace, tolerance and a lack of prejudice. These are the ideals
which are being compromised and threatened by the proposed legislation
and thus it is hoped that the people of Switzerland reject the banning of
minarets outright in the referendum due to take place on November 29th.

For more information contact

Abid Khan (44) 07795490682


Email: press@ahmadiyya.org.uk Web: http://www.ahmadiyya.ca/press/press231109.pdf

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