ID :
92380
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 18:22
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http://m.oananews.org//node/92380
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UK Muslims condemn Swiss minaret ban
London, Nov 30, IRNA – British Muslims have condemned the decision made by Switzerland to ban the building of minarets as a “tragic and deplorable development.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said the Swiss system of putting such decisions to the people in a referendum is “laudable in itself.”
But Sunday’s result reveals the “extent to which far right racist groups are winning the battle of ideas on the future of Europe,” MCB warned.
The Swiss government said that it opposed the proposal put forward by the Swiss People's Party, (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which described minarets are a sign of Islamisation, but accepted the decision to ban them.
The MCB, Britain’s mainstream Muslim organisation said that racist groups and political parties were gaining ground in Europe “stigmatising Muslim communities and scaremongering with their 'Eurabia' thesis.”
In Britain, there has already been a growth in far-right groups demonstrating and provoking conflict in front of mosques in recent months.
“The Swiss referendum results today show how far and how quickly Europe is moving in the wrong direction in its attitudes and policies towards Muslims and other minority groups in Europe,” said MCB secretary general Abdul Bari.
“Mosques and minarets in our European cities are manifestations of the proudly indigenous nature of Islam in Europe. It is tragic that the Far Right is stripping away at our illustrious heritage of coexistence between different faiths and cultures in Europe and replacing it with their warped and xenophobic outlook”, Bari said.
In a statement obtained by IRNA, he also warned that the rise in anti-Muslim prejudice, accompanying the Swiss opposition’s campaign, will “further exacerbate Muslim fears.”
The referendum result, Bari said, “sets a dangerous precedence and demands that Muslims and others must work hard and diligently against the Far Rright to reject their venomous 'Islamisation' platform.”
“This is no less than a battle of ideas for the future of a plural and progressive Europe”, he added./end
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said the Swiss system of putting such decisions to the people in a referendum is “laudable in itself.”
But Sunday’s result reveals the “extent to which far right racist groups are winning the battle of ideas on the future of Europe,” MCB warned.
The Swiss government said that it opposed the proposal put forward by the Swiss People's Party, (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which described minarets are a sign of Islamisation, but accepted the decision to ban them.
The MCB, Britain’s mainstream Muslim organisation said that racist groups and political parties were gaining ground in Europe “stigmatising Muslim communities and scaremongering with their 'Eurabia' thesis.”
In Britain, there has already been a growth in far-right groups demonstrating and provoking conflict in front of mosques in recent months.
“The Swiss referendum results today show how far and how quickly Europe is moving in the wrong direction in its attitudes and policies towards Muslims and other minority groups in Europe,” said MCB secretary general Abdul Bari.
“Mosques and minarets in our European cities are manifestations of the proudly indigenous nature of Islam in Europe. It is tragic that the Far Right is stripping away at our illustrious heritage of coexistence between different faiths and cultures in Europe and replacing it with their warped and xenophobic outlook”, Bari said.
In a statement obtained by IRNA, he also warned that the rise in anti-Muslim prejudice, accompanying the Swiss opposition’s campaign, will “further exacerbate Muslim fears.”
The referendum result, Bari said, “sets a dangerous precedence and demands that Muslims and others must work hard and diligently against the Far Rright to reject their venomous 'Islamisation' platform.”
“This is no less than a battle of ideas for the future of a plural and progressive Europe”, he added./end
