The Minaret Ban Controversy, page 1
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ATS Members have flagged this thread 9 times
Topic started on 7-12-2009 @ 04:22 AM by Skyfloating
The swiss Minaret Ban Controversy is the latest chapter in a war of values between the West and Islam. It raises many interesting questions that will be of importance in the Future:

What are the limits of Religious Tolerance?

Should we Tolerate Intolerance?

How will this issue be handled in other western countries?

Amnesty International termed the vote as a violation of freedom of religion and demanded from the Swiss Supreme Court to intervene and overturn the outcome before it is made part of the constitution.
1

The PC and Human Rights crowd claims that banning minarets means the Swiss lack religious tolerance.

But Minarets are not Mosques. They are the towers from which very loud prayers, often using loudspeakers, are sung five times a day. For non-muslims and westerners this is seen as an intrusion and an obnoxious one for many.

How would Muslims feel if I cranked up some of my Rock or Electronic Music so that the whole neighbourhood could hear it?

And yet, outrage and pressure continues to be exerted from all sides, not wanting to allow Switzerland to make its own decisions as a sovereign nation.

the Secretary of OIC, called the ban an example of growing anti-Islamic incitement in Europe by the extremist, anti-immigrant, xenophobic, racist, scare-mongering ultra-right politicians who reign over common sense, wisdom and universal values.


the move was "at odds with the protection of Muslim citizens' civil rights and will hurt the feelings of Muslims across the world," according to Iran's state television. Calmy-Rey told Mottaki her government would "use all its means to support Muslims rights," according to IRNA.
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(The shiites of Iran fail to mention that the Swiss host many more mosques than Iran hosts churches)

I would venture a guess that if muslim factions and civil rights groups would be more friendly about it rather than try to force the issue or demand that it is their "civil right" to craft the soundscape and city-scape of Switzerland, Switzerland may have granted them their wish.

Any human being is more likely to grant a request that is politely asked for rather than demanded with force.

But calling anyone who does not want to be pestered by loud chanting 5 times a day and does not want to be forced to change their own property by force outside of that property a "xenophone racist" and "enemy of the muslim world" is just wrong in my opinion and sets a bad standard for the future of international relations.

If I were in charge I would have granted them their wish to have Minarets if they hadnt started forcing the issue in a fanatical manner.

Thoughts?

[edit on 7-12-2009 by Skyfloating]


reply posted on 7-12-2009 @ 04:38 AM by Rockpuck
reply to post by Skyfloating



The PC and Human Rights crowd claims that banning minarets means the Swiss lack religious tolerance.


the PC Human Rights crowd lack Religious tolerance.

In the city where I live they had a Tree lighting. not a Christmas Tree. not even a Holiday Tree. Just a Tree. All the signs said "Tree", all the public officials simply refer to "The Tree". They announce it was "for everyone" ....

two weeks later, they are having a chanukah Menorah Lighting.

NOT a "Candle Stick Lighting" ..

So they see a number of Swiss banning minaret as being intolerant .. while I agree, I also agree with the Swiss who want the ban, stating that the towers are being used as a political symbol, rather than religious. (They are supposed to be used to call out to the city for daily prayers) But there was no rules as to what could be said over their loud speakers.. religious messages, or political .. apparently, quite a bit of it was political.



reply posted on 7-12-2009 @ 05:21 AM by zazzafrazz
The minaret is "one part of our religion and culture, and we have the right to it," said Mutalip Karaademi. Minarets are not used to call Muslims to prayer in Switzerland.

www.latimes.com...

Ok found it

it was for minarets, not the call to prayer, so this was a useless excercise for a whole country to vote on other than if it was bigotted in purpose. Ok this is a far right sponsored xenophobic piece of nonesence. There a re four in switzerland, The minarets are hardly imposing and intruding on the average swiss persons life, I wish I could ban half the hideous arctitecture from the 70s and 80s, but i got not religion to vilify....so its not gonna happen


There are only four minarets atop mosques in the small Alpine country, but the two right-wing parties that sponsored the referendum cast it as a political question about the assimilation of Muslims into Swiss life. The minaret "is a political symbol against integration; a symbol more of segregation, and first of all, a symbol to try to introduce Sharia law parallel to Swiss rights," Ulrich Schluer said in a telephone interview. Schluer is one of the leaders of the Egerkingen Committee, which authored the bill, and a lawmaker from the conservative Swiss People's Party.




It would ban blaring propaganda voiced from Minarets that, with loudspeakers, give your voice a range of a few miles.


They can still blare through louspeakers on a wall, as this was not the referundum, it was minarets. but the point is in Switzerland they do not use the minarets for call to prayer....




[edit on 7-12-2009 by zazzafrazz]


reply posted on 7-12-2009 @ 05:30 AM by fumanchu
reply to post by zazzafrazz


If the ban had nothing to do with the call to prayer then it is far from bigoted, in fact it has nothing to do with religion at all but everything to do with aesthetics. That being the case it also has sod all to do with tolerance and those complaining about the decision are just whining and latching on to the non-existent religious element in order to create an argument that shouldn't even exist.


reply posted on 7-12-2009 @ 05:51 AM by zazzafrazz
reply to post by Skyfloating


Again you are basing your arguement on something that doesnt happen in Switzerland. They do not blare through loudspeakers and this was not in the referndum.

I never called you a right wing nut job? I didn't bring up Iran and thats kinda taking me completely different to this thread purpose so I wont address that if thats cool... I'll leave my discussion at reiterrating the above paragraph... your kinda antsy tonight



[edit on 7-12-2009 by zazzafrazz]
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