TRIPOLI – A Swiss minaret ban gives ammunition to the terrorist Al-Qaeda group to launch attacks in Europe, Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi warned Sunday, December 6.
"They pretend they are fighting Al-Qaeda and terrorism whereas in fact they have just rendered it the greatest service," Kadhafi told an academic ceremony cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Swiss voters last week backed an initiative by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) to ban the building of minarets in Switzerland.
"In Switzerland's actions, Al-Qaeda found a confirmation to its assertions that Europe is an enemy sowing hatred who should be fought against until victory," Kadhafi said.
"Al-Qaeda militants are now saying: 'We warned you that they were our enemies… Look at what they are doing in Europe. Come and join us for a jihad against Europe’.”
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Swiss Ban Serves Rightists: EU Muslims
The SVP -- Switzerland's biggest party – had forced a referendum on the minaret ban after collecting 100,000 signatures within 18 months from eligible voters.
The ban sparked international outcry for restricting Muslims’ right to freedom of worship.
The ban is opposed by the Swiss government, the bulk of Switzerland’s political parties as well as the economic establishment.
Islam is the second religion in Switzerland after Christianity, with Muslims estimated at nearly 400,000.
There are nearly 160 mosques and prayer rooms in the country, mainly in disused factories and warehouses.
Only four of them have minarets, none of them used to raise the Azan, the call to prayer, which is banned in Switzerland.
Economic Impact
The Libyan leader warned Switzerland of an economic fallout over the minaret ban.
"You must think of your interests,” Kadhafi told the Swiss.
“You need gas, ports, the sea, solar energy, investments."
Switzerland annually earns over $10 billion from business with Muslim countries.
Around 170,000 people from the Gulf visit the Alpine country every year.
Analysts predict that the minaret ban could cause an outflow of Arab investments from Switzerland.
In 2005, the publication of cartoons lampooning Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) by a Danish newspaper sparked Muslim protests and a boycott of Danish products.
“[You must] think before making such careless decisions," Kadhafi said.
Tripoli's own relations with Bern have been strained by the brief detention in July 2008 in Geneva of Kadhafi's son Hannibal and daughter-in-law after two servants had complained of mistreatment.
Two Swiss businessmen have since been held in the North African country.
IslamOnline
"They pretend they are fighting Al-Qaeda and terrorism whereas in fact they have just rendered it the greatest service," Kadhafi told an academic ceremony cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Swiss voters last week backed an initiative by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) to ban the building of minarets in Switzerland.
"In Switzerland's actions, Al-Qaeda found a confirmation to its assertions that Europe is an enemy sowing hatred who should be fought against until victory," Kadhafi said.
"Al-Qaeda militants are now saying: 'We warned you that they were our enemies… Look at what they are doing in Europe. Come and join us for a jihad against Europe’.”
*
Swiss Ban Serves Rightists: EU Muslims
The SVP -- Switzerland's biggest party – had forced a referendum on the minaret ban after collecting 100,000 signatures within 18 months from eligible voters.
The ban sparked international outcry for restricting Muslims’ right to freedom of worship.
The ban is opposed by the Swiss government, the bulk of Switzerland’s political parties as well as the economic establishment.
Islam is the second religion in Switzerland after Christianity, with Muslims estimated at nearly 400,000.
There are nearly 160 mosques and prayer rooms in the country, mainly in disused factories and warehouses.
Only four of them have minarets, none of them used to raise the Azan, the call to prayer, which is banned in Switzerland.
Economic Impact
The Libyan leader warned Switzerland of an economic fallout over the minaret ban.
"You must think of your interests,” Kadhafi told the Swiss.
“You need gas, ports, the sea, solar energy, investments."
Switzerland annually earns over $10 billion from business with Muslim countries.
Around 170,000 people from the Gulf visit the Alpine country every year.
Analysts predict that the minaret ban could cause an outflow of Arab investments from Switzerland.
In 2005, the publication of cartoons lampooning Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) by a Danish newspaper sparked Muslim protests and a boycott of Danish products.
“[You must] think before making such careless decisions," Kadhafi said.
Tripoli's own relations with Bern have been strained by the brief detention in July 2008 in Geneva of Kadhafi's son Hannibal and daughter-in-law after two servants had complained of mistreatment.
Two Swiss businessmen have since been held in the North African country.
IslamOnline
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