GENEVA -- Switzerland's Federal Commission against Racism banned on Wednesday, October 7, a racially prejudiced poster, part of a campaign by a far-right party against the building of minarets in the central European country.
"The commission believes that this could threaten social cohesion and public peace," it said in a statement cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The Swiss People's Party (SVP) has unveiled a campaign poster depicting a woman wearing a burka against a background of a Swiss flag upon which several minarets resembling missiles were erected.
"Stop! Yes for the ban on minarets," read the French and German posters, referring to a referendum on minarets construction in November.
The government commission asserted that the posters "feed prejudices, are over-simplistic and presents Islam overall in an unfavorable manner."
The cities of Basel and Lausanne earlier described the poster as racist and banned it in publicly-owned spaces.
One of Switzerland's major media groups, Ringier, has said it will not publish the poster.
The Tages-Anzeiger and the free 20 Minuten dailies will also not carry it.
The SVP has collected more than 100,000 signatures to force a referendum on the issue of minaret after the Senate overwhelmingly rejected a ban proposal.
Its anti-minaret campaign has caused an outcry, with the government denouncing it as unconstitutional and discriminatory.
The centre-right Free Democratic Party (FDP) has also attacked the idea, saying it would only compound "unfounded" fears against the country's Muslims.
Switzerland’s Roman Catholic bishops have urged voters to reject the proposed ban on minaret construction.
Amnesty International has blasted the proposed ban, warning the drive aims to exploit fears of Muslims and encourage xenophobia for political gains.
* Defaming
The government commission said the posters suggest that the Muslim minority in Switzerland represents a danger.
It added that the controversial fliers send the message that the Muslims are seeking to dominate the Swiss people, oppress women and disregard fundamental rights.
"This is equivalent to defamation of Switzerland's peaceful Muslim population."
The anti-minaret drive has shocked Switzerland's 350,000 Muslims, many of whom have been campaigning for decades for more recognition for their faith.
Islam is the second religion in the country after Christianity; however Muslims are often the object of animosity.
Mosques in Switzerland tend to be confined to disused warehouses and factories.
In the capital Berne, the largest mosque is in a former underground car park.
Across the country, there are only four mosques with minarets; none of them is used to raise the Azan, the call to prayer.
Source: IslamOnline
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