CAIRO – A Swiss ban on the construction of mosque minarets is echoing across Europe, with calls in the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy for referendums to ban the Muslim symbol. "We will call upon the government to make a similar referendum possible in the Netherlands," Geert Wilders, the leader of the far-right Dutch Freedom Party, told Volkskrant daily Monday, November 30.
Swiss voters backed Sunday a referendum initiated by the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) to ban the building of new minarets in the country.
The referendum was forced under Swiss regulations after the SVP collected 100,000 signatures within 18 months from eligible voters to ban the minarets.
The party claims that minarets are a symbol of Shari`ah and are thus incompatible with the Swiss legal system.
"It's the first time that people in Europe have stood up to a form of Islamisation,” said Wilders.
“What can be done in Switzerland, can be done here."
Wilders, a far-right lawmaker, is notorious for his attacks against Islam and Muslims.
Swiss Minarets Controversy (Folder) He released in March 2008 a 15-minute documentary, entitled "Fitna" or sedition in Arabic, accusing the Noble Qur'an of inciting violence. The documentary drew international condemnation and was blasted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as "offensively anti-Islamic".
Wilders had also called for banning the Muslim holy book, describing it as "fascist."
He has also called for a halt to immigration from Muslim countries and a ban on the construction of mosques in the Netherlands.
No to Minarets
In Belgium, the right-wing Vlaams Belang said it would submit a decree to the Flemish regional parliament to ban minarets in the country, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The far-right party said the minarets “damage their surroundings' existing cultural identity."
The anti-immigrant Northern League also called for minaret ban in Italy.
"Switzerland is sending us a clear signal: yes to bell towers, no to minarets," League member and minister of administrative simplification Roberto Calderoli said.
"The flag of a courageous Switzerland which wants to remain Christian is flying over a near-Islamised Europe," added Mario Borghezio, a Euro-MP for the Northern League.
The Northern League is widely accused of racism with many critics calling it the BNP of Italy, a reference to the British right-wing party.
Its election campaign played on issues such as immigration, crime and economic and cultural fears from immigration.
Portraying itself as a defender of Italy's Christian roots, it started its mission in Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s new government in May 2008 with bringing down a mosque in the northern city of Verona.
Last year, the League rejoiced the success of its campaign to halt the building of a mosque in the northern city of Bologna.
Last year, League MP Mario Borghezio burst into a church in the northern city of Genoa shouting anti-Islam statements.
Source: IslamOnline
Swiss voters backed Sunday a referendum initiated by the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) to ban the building of new minarets in the country.
The referendum was forced under Swiss regulations after the SVP collected 100,000 signatures within 18 months from eligible voters to ban the minarets.
The party claims that minarets are a symbol of Shari`ah and are thus incompatible with the Swiss legal system.
"It's the first time that people in Europe have stood up to a form of Islamisation,” said Wilders.
“What can be done in Switzerland, can be done here."
Wilders, a far-right lawmaker, is notorious for his attacks against Islam and Muslims.
Swiss Minarets Controversy (Folder) He released in March 2008 a 15-minute documentary, entitled "Fitna" or sedition in Arabic, accusing the Noble Qur'an of inciting violence. The documentary drew international condemnation and was blasted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as "offensively anti-Islamic".
Wilders had also called for banning the Muslim holy book, describing it as "fascist."
He has also called for a halt to immigration from Muslim countries and a ban on the construction of mosques in the Netherlands.
No to Minarets
In Belgium, the right-wing Vlaams Belang said it would submit a decree to the Flemish regional parliament to ban minarets in the country, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The far-right party said the minarets “damage their surroundings' existing cultural identity."
The anti-immigrant Northern League also called for minaret ban in Italy.
"Switzerland is sending us a clear signal: yes to bell towers, no to minarets," League member and minister of administrative simplification Roberto Calderoli said.
"The flag of a courageous Switzerland which wants to remain Christian is flying over a near-Islamised Europe," added Mario Borghezio, a Euro-MP for the Northern League.
The Northern League is widely accused of racism with many critics calling it the BNP of Italy, a reference to the British right-wing party.
Its election campaign played on issues such as immigration, crime and economic and cultural fears from immigration.
Portraying itself as a defender of Italy's Christian roots, it started its mission in Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s new government in May 2008 with bringing down a mosque in the northern city of Verona.
Last year, the League rejoiced the success of its campaign to halt the building of a mosque in the northern city of Bologna.
Last year, League MP Mario Borghezio burst into a church in the northern city of Genoa shouting anti-Islam statements.
Source: IslamOnline
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