Swiss Muslims gain support from unexpected source - rabbis
Conference of European Rabbis condemn Swiss proposal to ban building of minarets.
By Yair Ettinger Tags: Jewish World Israel newsSwitzerland's Muslim population received support from an unexpected source on Wednesday when an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group voiced its opposition to a campaign to ban the building of minarets, distinctive architectural features of Islamic mosques, in the country.
The proposal had been put forward by the Swiss People's Party (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which said minarets were a sign of Islamization.
The head of the Conference of European Rabbis, which convened this week in Moscow, issued a statement criticizing the proposed ban, saying that Europe won't defeat extreme Islam by battling freedom of religion and knocking down mosque minarets in Switzerland.
Rabbi Aba Dunner made his remarks in response to the results of a referendum held earlier this week, in which 57% of Swiss voters voted in favor of the ban.
"Only through unrelenting support of moderates within the Muslim community and promoting interfaith dialogue can European governments defeat the fundamentalist extreme Islam," Rabbi Dunner said.
The Conference of European Rabbis condemned the outcome of last Sunday's referendum in a resolution passed during their two-day meeting, international relations director Philip Carmel told Reuters on Thursday.
"We don't have a situation of the extreme right in Europe attacking Jews because they are content to attack Muslims," he said. "But the Swiss example is classic: it's not just Muslims who are going to be targeted by the extreme right."
Speaking after the conference ended, Carmel said any movement towards xenophobia or extreme nationalist sentiment was "bad for Jews", adding: "The growth of the far right legitimizes xenophobic opinion."
"Because of the lack of structure of umbrella Muslim groups, politicians have a tendency to prefer dialogue with those who seem to be the loudest but they are not necessarily representative," Carmel said.
The Conference, which represents over 800 rabbis in more than 40 countries, was concerned that Jews might be the next targets of a rise in right-wing sentiment aroused by the minaret ban, he said.
The rabbis met in Moscow at the historic Choral Synagogue, scene of protests by Jews during the Soviet years when so many KGB agents stood inside that worshippers preferred to meet on the street outside. The building has been restored.
Rabbis said they were delighted by the revival of Jewish life in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union, where their faith was relentlessly persecuted, leading to an exodus of tens of thousands.
They said the growth of Muslim extremism in western Europe's capitals was making life difficult for Jewish communities there.
Jonasan Abraham, a London rabbi, said it was "tragic to think that it's safer now to walk the streets of Moscow as a Jew than in many Western European capitals where you feel hostility".
In some European cities, Jews were living under tight security at schools and synagogues because of the threat from Islamic fundamentalists, the rabbis said.
"You can't talk about the Holocaust in certain classrooms because the Muslim children will stand and complain about why it is being discussed," Carmel said.
The rabbis called for European governments to combat Muslim extremism by making a commitment not to engage in dialogue with fundamentalist organizations and their representatives.
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In the golden domed Regents Park Mosque in London there are minarets, BUT they are not allowed to be used so as not to disturb the peace five times a day. This is part of a reciprical agreement with Egypt that the Anglican Cathedral will not use its church bells and disturb Muslims. The Swiss would have had a stronger case simply not allowing the minarets to be used. They are no more essential to a mosque than a steeple to a church.
Let't not be so self-centred! There is tight security at airports and train stations and at government buildings and major landmarks. Jews have not been the only targets for Islamist fanatics, not in the Twin Towers, not in London, Madrid or Bali... Islamists target the Western world with its liberal and democratic values that are a threat to Islam.
For the last thousand years, the real problem has been and continues to be Islam's expansion from Arabia - Minarets are a direct and provocative challenge to the steeples of Churches.
What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. Go and learn it. Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a Yes Muslims have wronged and continue to wrong, Yes Muslims have hated and continued to hate! But we follow another way, not tit-for-tat hatred we are no guided by our whims, we have a much higher source. So grow up, before you become what we have hated and suffered from for generations
Judging by so many negative and hateful comments made, there's still along way to understanding and tolerance between Jews and Muslims.Most people are negative from the start instead of building on positive things like the Jews support of the Muslims in Switzerland.
Yes, 57 percent voted against a piece of architecture. And many Jews liked it, as a matter of fact. See for example the reaction of the head of the Swedish Pirate Party. Jewish activists like Henryk M.Broder, the porn writer, argues against Islam in the same way, not to mention Ralph Giordano, an important Jewish thinker in Germany. Anyway, it was a majority, but not a bog one and the Swiss are at a moral low anyway as far as strangers are concerned. See the Ghaddafi affairl, the victories of right-wing parties etc. So it is less an architecture problem but a general problem of civilisation. But it happens in a democracy and nobody ever wanted to restrict any other rights of Muslims, that do allready live in that ccountry, except this architecture thing.
Sunnis fighting shias,Arabs Fighting Jews,chirstians fighting Moslems & jews, Africans fighting...What for? Just for the sake of some bloody politicians.
Several posters commented that Muslim countries do not allow churches or synagogues. I know about Iran, and there are quite a few churches and synagogues there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_synagogues_in_Iran http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran Iranians are not Saudis. There is real intellectual life in Iran. Also, most Iranians are more progressive than their government.
They are right today the muslim and tomorrow the Jews, the Indians, etc etc
Muslims do appreciate the support of the Jewish community. We're not ingrates. Also, remember, first they go for the most vulnerable group; but one day they will knock at your door. That's how it happened during the Holocaust.
What is your point? Is it that Muslims will begin their conquest by using minarets?
If, decades ago, the U.S. Defense Nuclear Agency released programs for simulating the effects of nuclear weapons under varying circumstances and those programs are easily available on the Web, why must that fact be suppressed? Is it because it shows that the simple fact that an Iranian had such programs and had run them failed to 'prove' there was an Iranian bomb program? Or was it because it proved that Israel's intelligence services were deceiving the ignorant of the world? I do not know, but as I rephrased the information in successive fashions to determine the exact problem, the ONLY conclusion left me is that Israel was not worried that someone would use the publicly available programs. it was no worried that someone would know that such programs were publicly available. The last possibility is that repeated attempts to answer the disinformation of Jon were repeatedly suppressed ONLY because if the truth were know, the case for attacking Iran was weakened.
The rabbis are under the mistaken identity that by showing sensativity to Muslims, it may be reciprocated, but won't.
Minarets are a source of nuisance. Ok, Switzerland to allow them (with no loudspeakers) when Saudi Arabia allows a church to be built on its land.
If one were dealing with a normal situation, namely, just a question of minarets, the Rabbis would be right. What the Rabbi's fail to understand is the modus oprandi of Muslims viz a viz their conquest of Europe, or any country.
go ahead and see if ylou can build a church or temple in syria, Iran, Eygpt, somalia, or SAUDI ARABIA!!!!! you miss the point - muslims would never support jews building a temple in some muslim/arab land AND YOU KNOW IT
how many churches or temples are being built in muslim/arab lands? some one please answer that
Why give Saudi Arabia as an example when you have more than 55 majority Muslim countries. This country, like the Taliban of Afghanistan is ruled by religious Wahabi extremists. The rulers have to stick to religion for them to survive. People all over the world want to have real democracy and freedom of worship. That include Saudis. Churches and Synagogues are allowed even in the most conservative 99% Muslims countries like Yemen. You just need to do a little research about it.
Why can't we just take this event as a great example of how decent and moral people behave and not to link it to any other issue. I personally find it to be a great gesture of solidarity from Jews with their fellow Muslim citizens in Switzerland and should be commended. Regardless of what religion you belong to, please keep things in perspective. Thank you Rabbis for your stance on what is right and moral.
It's obvious that those rabbis are only interested in themselves- isn't that the way rabbis are just are? I mean, weren't they just born that way? :-)
In Switzerland, everyone can change the constitution. All you need are 100'000 signatures which will be checked by the autorities (swiss citizens according to the registry and so on) and you have to win the votation, held once you brought in 100'000 Signatures. Most of this initiatives do not win the support of the voting population and are turned down in the votation. However, the bann on minarets consists of one sentence: "The building of minarets is forbidden". With that not a single problem is solved, but many new generated. Political analysts therefore say, that this entire initiative is a clear abuse of rights.
what would u think of: if i became the president of turkey and suddenly banned all bell towers in churches or synagogues cant have magen davids inside it cuz Israel has it on its flag!! I would never do it and im a jew. a minaret is a part of a mosque- like jesus in all churches or bell towers - or magen david and menorah in all synagogues! you cant decide who needs what for praying! why doesnt moderates dont need a minaret is it sign of cihad or something violent its no different than any part of a church synagogue or a buddhist temple! is there different ways for praying f u re moderate or fundamentalist? Switzerland is no fundamentalist christian monarch like saudi arabia if saudi arabia was in the same place as swiss u were right but u ignore this important fact SWiss re democratics and in a democracy its the sign of NON democracy!!
Idiots,Shameful brownnosed idiots.Trying to suck up to these people who hate you,these people wouldn't do the same for you.They would never stand up for you.In fact they would just do the opposite.
no-one is kickin anyone from anybodies land the land of israel is jewish. jews lived there for 3000 year continues to live there and decided to have a state nothing wrong with it! zionism is no different than french nationalism or kurdish or turkish or arab or any other nations. many jews come from europe thats right but what about jews who migrated there from arab countries where they ve been kicked out? and they bought the land not stole it no one complained when got the jewish money in their hands... sorry once u sell it it doesnt belong to you any more and once they were strong enough they declared independence. many examples in history... americans from brits for example. and they didnt even purchased the land! why attack all the time cant u say bravo to a good thing jews did. no for u obviously jews re always sneaky and evil
"Only through unrelenting support of moderates within the Muslim community and promoting interfaith dialogue can European governments defeat the fundamentalist extreme Islam," Rabbi Dunner said. Well he is wrong. Moderate Moslems (including my Moslem friends) do not need minarets to pray in mosques. The minarets in Europe just don't fit in the European landscape and culture, even the tolerant culture. The Rabbi is wrong , fundamentalists are religious nutcases hell bent on conquest of Europe. The minarets would be another nail in the coffin. Moderate Moslems don't need minarets. And how about building one Church in Saudia for every 100 mosques in Europe ? That would make plenty of Churches , even without bell towers. Support moderate Moslems , Yes. In the Rabbi's way, NO.
In Virginia , a Synagogue is used by Muslims ( yes Muslims) as a rented place of worship. The issue is not Islam against jews or Jews against mohammad , the issue is Zionists kicking Arabs ( christians and Muslims) out of their country and denying them the right to return . If the Zionists were Christians , would be then Muslims against Christians?????? One is political and the other is different religions and faiths ....
rabbis re acting correctly in this case! switzerland is a democratic country and in a democracy its not only the majority who rule the country! majority must respect every right of minorities! if banned Swiss is no more an example democracy for the world! its outrageous to ban any religion in a country. banning the temple equals banning the religion by the way. i think the resolution wont be accepted. it violates every rule of democracy. rabbis by backin muslims made a true choice. some countries mostly muslim bans jewish temples and religion. it would be hypocratical to back this when other countries banns our own temples. but at least those countries arnt called ''democratic'' Shame on u switzerland! i ve always admired the democracy in there untill u spit in it!!
Of course, if referendums are good for Minarets, then it will be good for Synagogues some time in the future. The Jews are just concerned for themselves. No more. That referendum is totally unjust. It is like allowing a referendum on Slavery in a white dominated racist State. A majority can not determine the fate of the minority in things that concerns their religion. This case does not hold waters in the court of law and the Rabbis know it.
If Islam become a predmoninant 'faith' in the west, the Imams won't be protesting for Jewish rights. Christianity and Judaism are under assault by radical Islam. Ten years ago Islam was a miniscule part of the Swiss population, now their 6%. With a high birth rate, and a limitless supply of immigrants, the liberal tradtions of Europe and the US are under siege. Banning the minarets is a necessary first step towards limiting the expansion of Muslim influence.
these rabbis are expressing jewish values. today it is minaretes tomorrow star of david. this is pure racism and bravo for our european rabbis.
Every once on a great while they do the surprising right thing. The correctly deduce: What is done to others today can be done to us tomorrrow. David.
this is ridiculous!! Why are the rabbis getting involved in this matter?? The muslim community would never take the side of a Jews in such a political stage.....
If the rabbis know the GOD of Israel, they should not be supporting the Islamist-Jihadists in their cause. Switzerland is right in what they did.
Dear Rabbis, it's called direct democracy. An issue you never heard of.We have enough of the Vatican stepping univited in everybody's sitting room and bedroom.. please do take care of your own matters. thank you in advance.
the issue shouldn't be that they have banned minarets, but that they have banned immigration and citizenship....some things never change.
It is the law.