Early results show Swiss voters back bid to ban new minarets

i watched a show on t.v here, regarding arabs and science, look it up, it's called" the science of islam ", i was shocked to learn of their achievments and how many stole thier findings, one was a syrian, another was iraqi and the other was iranian, these people were the launching pad for what we know today and what we have, algebra, algorithms, optics, medicine and so on, i dare you to look for it and then come back to me with your silly post.it was western cultures that were killing off arabs thankyou, tell me syrian, who was the race which discovered glass, algebra, how were the pyramids built?, nutcase.

my sincere apologies to the swedes. i'm thoroughly familiar with the european map, so i've no excuse for my snafu, other than a mental glitch when i wrote my comment. i even proof read that dam thing! my apologies.

"Switzerland is home to some 400,000 Muslims and has just four minarets." "After Christianity, Islam is the most widespread religion in Switzerland, but it remains relatively hidden." Get that? 4 minarets and it's a problem? It's just more racism and it's indicative of the extent israeli racism that so many israelis on this message board are turned on by it .

my sincere apologies to the swedes. i'm thoroughly familiar with the european map, so i've no excuse for my snafu, other than a mental glitch when i wrote my comment. i even proof read that dam thing! my apologies.

and my sincere apologies to the swedes. i'm thoroughly familiar with the european map, so i've no excuse for my snafu, other than a mental glitch when i wrote my comment. i even proof read that dam thing! my apologies.

the citation of Erdogan it's out of the contest: he said that for Turkey and not related to Europe: he meant that mosques will be their center to gain vote and become the ruling party in Turkey. Unfortunately they did it...

Switzerland and Sweden are not one and the same, in fact they are radically different. Making such a mistake as you've done here, is tantamount to mistaking Austria for Australia.

the right party who has promoted the vote was also against building of a new synagogue in christian Switzerland ... history is very difficult to learn ...

The saudia arabia point was additional which you are right that most of them care LESS about however I DO. IT is in itself an example of Islamic extremism. Islam has shown difficulty and unwillingness to integrate into western societies and its presence there has lead to undesired and unpleasant results. The system of tolerance and freedom was a long struggle and process which european societies went through in order to reach it and each of these societies has the right to protect its own ideologies, if some people are unhappy with them, they simply dont have to be part of.

So much for freedom of religion and expression in Switzerland.

The oppressive regimes in Iran, in certain regions in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Gaza, are NOT supported by the west. Face it, most Muslim governments are fascist oppressors of their own people.

When Saudi Arabia allows Christians and Jews to worship in that country, Switzerland should reverse the ban

or the numbers of churches and synagogues in ANY other country for that matter. it has to do with sweden and a hate inspired campaign that successfully managed to invoke a nationalistic sense of paranoia. it's not really that difficult given the right conditions. the nazis did it, the zionists are doing it, some political movements in some eastern european nations are trying to do it with jews; and apparently it's been managed in sweden... and the perpetrators don't give a rat's ass about how many churches or synogogues are in saudi arabia.

It is my understanding that in saudi arabia it is impossible to build a church and to convert people it is tantamount to death - who is the intolerant here? Even in Turkey it is VERY difficult to build a church and yet they want the freedoms that they deny christians in Christian lands while being intolerant towards CHristians (and Jews) in their own lands.

Imagine if muslims are majority in EU.They will vote for the distruction of Israel.Any support for Islam is a nail in the Israel's coffin.

To support its position, the SVP cites a famous remark by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who once implied that the construction of mosques and minarets is part of a strategy for the Islamization of Europe. The pro-Islamic Erdogan said: ?The minarets are our bayonets, the domes our helmets, the mosques our barracks and the faithful our army. http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/switzerland%E2%80%99s-minaret-war/

I have mixed feelings about this. It is an 'unfair' legislation, HOWEVER, it might be that adopting a doctrine of Equivalency and reciprocity will bring about good change. e.g. Saudi offer no religious freedom, do not allow churches, synagogues, etc - then they should be denied the same - i.e. holding a mirror to Islam. Moslems in Europe and elsewhere have not voiced objections to the intolerance of Islamic countries while enjoying far greater freedom in the West - i.e. they provide at minimum silent approval and for the most support Islamic state intolerance (as we can see from fiery speeches in mosques in Europe, surveys, demonstrations, etc- Is Muslims in the west are not acting to moderate Islam then Europe can and should act in a reciprocal way. But Muslims, as usual, will focus on 'Intolerant Europe' and not comment that Islamic countries are very very intolerant to other religions and should lead by example. Muslims should voice for both sides to be tolerant and Islam to lead

- a jewish one. your country is facing a problem coming to the fore everywhere in europe & you start talking about the jews! it has nothing to do w/them & is specifically different from any jewish issue. muslims are foreign to europe in a way incomparable to how european jewry relates to this continent. they're a largely recent immigrant influx in an era where political & indeed radical islam has been on the rise clashing w/the west. in addition, jews holding radical political opinions aren't exporting their fight to europe in the form of violent campaigns. there's a building up of tension here that the muslim community (enjoying rights & freedoms they couldn't dream of in their countries of origin, not to speak of what foreigners of different traditions can enjoy in those countries) will have to face up to very honestly if they want to keep being part of the western world, & the dilemmas facing us in this respect are real. you're mixing astronomically distinct issues.

iran and so on, just because you pick one doesn't mean that all are the same, funny syrian, i know a few syrians, they are lovely people, fair minded and quite logical, and i would love to go there, are you a jewish syrian? because you seem to be a supporter of israels policies.

U.N's one third jihadist states, E.U., CHina, Russia, hypocrites etc. protests? If Israel would ban minarets all the above would have immediately come out of hibernation in protest.

or the number of churches and synagogues in any other country for that matter. it has to do with sweden and a hate inspired campaign that successfully managed to invoke a nationalistic sense of paranoia. it's not really that difficult given the right conditions. the nazis did it, the zionists are doing it, some political movements in some eastern european nations are trying to do it with jews; and apparently it's been managed in sweden... and the perpetrators don't give a rat's ass about how many churches or synogogues are in saudi arabia.

I'm a Muslim and don't see anything wrong with banning a minaret. Sure its probably motivated by fear and intolerance, but the minaret is not essential in Islam or mosque building, just traditional (similar to a church spire). If people see it as a symbol of power or rockets or whatever, then fair enough ban it. Its no big deal to most Muslims.

Please remind us when was the last church built in... let say Saudi Arabia???

Do not understand the exitement. A building which is not religeously needed has been banned. Mosques can as heretofore be build. What is impressive is the reaction: Switzerland has also laws agains Judaism, but this seems not to bother anybody: one always kowtow to oil and money (or presumed money). Correct?

this leaves YOU with no room to comment on anything that you might perceive to be anti-semitism; does it? you're no better than those you revile; you just made that very clear.

... thats the way to stop the growing islamisation of europe!! Wonder if other western nations have the same guts.

Minarets in Israel have grown louder and louder, and beam out in very high decibels their call for prayer with loudspeakers five times a day. No minarets are forbidden, no calls for prayer either.

I travel to experience the texture of the destination as I believe it to be. In the case of Switzerland, it is aproned, braided blonds hopping around the mountain sides with their lederhoseded dudes pushing a wheelbarrow of cuckoo clocks and chocolates. I go to Egypt when I want minarets, amplified wailing from the muezzin, humus and pyramids. OK, call me shallow. The Arabs seem to understand: they actively suppress of any trace of multiculturalism. Why can't the West get it?

Israel should pass the SAME law word-for-word and see what the world does.

Perhaps subconsciously they perceive the minaret as a threatening phallic symbol. But, as Freud said, sometimes a minaret is just a minaret ! Psychologist

The Islamic imposition is evident in most European countries . So If Europe wants to be preserved as a civilized continent and prevent Islamisation of their culture , then they have to curb the Muslim invasion and influence . Otherwise they will become a third world like the whole Arab/Muslim world is . Remember , Islam is becoming more militaristic and dogmatic with every new generation .

Our Muslims have more freedom than yours! As always , statements Swiss makes have a smoky color .

Read , it is clear like daylight . "We just want to stop further Islamisation in Switzerland, I mean political Islam. People may practice their religion, that is no problem," Walter Wobmann, who is president of a committee of initiative backers, told Reuters on Sunday

Good for the Swiss, who seem to be pragmatic enough to avoid the "political correctness" of ignoring Islam's never ending drive for domination through undermining western societies. Americans are still asleep as Islam preys upon the "civility" of western democracies to chip away at western freedoms and soften democracies to encroach more and more towards implementing their power agenda. Do those sleeping really believe it is some "accident" that Islamic Terror is extant today in some 15 or so nations around the globe??????

With this decision the Swiss people have positioned themselves as the first Western country to take steps against encroaching Islamism. They have decided to fight. Like it or not, this will of the Swiss must be respected. A majority of Swiss people are frightened of Islamist excesses, murder and violence in other European states and have decided to prevent that in their country, as well as even partial acceptance of Shariah laws in Swiss society. Being Swiss myself I have voted against this proposal as I think it is not worthy of a free society. But Arab societies are anything but free. As long as Arab countries persecute non-Moslems - today mainly Christians as there are nearly no Jews left there - and as long as other religions are outlawed and punished severely in Saudi Arabia where no churches are allowed and anyone caught with a bible has be afraid of sanctions by the religion police ? no Moslem has the slightest right to be insulted by the result of this Swiss vote.

The Swiss Government was in favor of the minarets. Citing good relations vis a vis exports with the Muslim World. Not to forget oil and gas imports. Mosques and minarets exist however local press releases has caused certain consternation and confusion amongst the populace The good citizens of Switzerland were misinformed and frankly speaking, the right wing parties used this as a form of creating fear. Minarets were equated with a rising Islamic Extremism, which is nonsense. Regarding arms exports, Switzerland is ranked number 13 in the world, most of these exports go to Pakistan,Saudi Arabia, Nato and elsewhere. The total amount is some 700.million euros. (One billion US Dollars): Per capita Switzerland is a close second to Israel, as an arms exporter. The voters furthermore voted against all arms exports. I wonder how many will be unemployed.? Good night from snowy Alps.

of the "paramount importance" of separation of church and state in America? The First Amendment would be a good starting point... too bad your George Bush didn't know about it before he set off on his "god whispered to me" war!

As a German I admire the Swiss democracy as a real one, while we have a faked system actually excluding the people from power sharing. Now one referendum which was as striking as idiotic (What do minarets or not have do to with Islamic practice?) has brought a deplorable result. Still I prefer Swiss freedom over German political hypocrisy.

The Swiss voter's results may look somehow strange as Switzerland is known for its liberal culture. Still we have to ask ourselves what it needs to defend liberalism? Unfortunately it is a matter of fact: Islam not only tolerates but also requests fascist behavior (jihād / šahīd). After years of expansion of islamic values in Europe, Swiss voters finally stood up! They stood up for humanist and liberal values. Values that are based on a jewish based christian culture. As a Swiss citizen I am not happy with the result. On the other hand I have to raise the question: WHAT ELSE SHOULD SWITZERLAND HAVE DONE? Other European countries already face problems of having backward islam values to become part of their values as part of islamic expansion. Switzerland does not accept this tendence and now voted. Some things must be nipped in the bud ... nipped before it's too late! Muslims in Switzerland are welcome, like every other guest, but not islamic values!

Not in my backyard. Great advocates of Muslims' rights in the Middle East and other countries, but not in my backyard. Swiss hypocrisy.

What is happing to Muslim populaion is their leaders fault. You did not hear them speak out against any terriorists activities without adding a but.

The success of the Swiss referendum against minerets explains the need for the Jewish State. Swiss Dino flatters himself by thinking that its fault lies in the bad Muslims (and Jews) inciting justifiable fear and disrespect. It really is the age old fear of the "Other" that lies behind the Swiss referendum, and that can come out any time there is stress. It's target in Switzerland today is Muslims. In Dreifus' France, it was the Jews. It's all the same. The need for the Jewish State is because the liberal regimes of the West can be depended on to rejct the "Other" from time to time and the illiberal regimes of the Arab and Muslim world can be counted on to reject the "Other" almost all the time. Certainly they can all tolerate the "Other" in small quantities as long as they keep a low profile, but for bold displays or political control, watch out. How many more synagogues would be built in a one state solution Arab majority state? How many Jews would be left in such a state?

Its a shame that Israel doesn't hold referendums if we did then could probably make alot more progress because the Israeli & foreign politicians will know what the Israeli people will accept. FREEZE SETTLEMENTS IN JUDEA & SAMARIA - YES / NO FREEZE BUILDING IN JERUSALEM - YES / NO DIVIDE JERUSALEM - YES / NO If that was done then the people would have spoken on these spessific issues so coalitions would not fall apart because its the people who have made this decission not the government. Obama couldn't bully Israel into making concessions if he is going to say he believes in democracy. If the people vote in a referendum not to make concessions that he is demanding what can he do except say democracy only important if it follows my plans if it conflicts with my demands then tough I have the final word not Israeli voters. Sadly in Israeli politics not giving referendums is something that just about every party & politican is agreed on.

It was almost 100 years between his death and the first minaret. It is a traditional embellishment but not necessary by any means. The Swiss have decided it is an architectural feature they don't wish. Their country, their choice. The intent of those promoting the legislation was clear. It was meant to hurt and inflame Muslims. That the Swiss have chosen endorse what is a typically nasty right-wing action is no business of mine. We have the same sort of skin-head haters here in America. Often they hate Muslims and Jews equally.

or less attention to the reasons behind them! Are there churches and synagogues in Saudi Arabia!!!!!

and less tolerant than Western regimes are of Islam, is Islam facism and violent intolerance of all other faiths.

....soon will for not early (and decisive) enough distancing themselves from the "rotten apples" in their midst. Moderate Jews and Muslims are sitting in exactly the same boat in that regard, and both will continue to make unpleasant experiences in the future, until they are going to change their (indifferent) approach....

There should be a ban in Israel as well. How many synagogues are there left in the Arab world? I don't know what it is going to take beyond the thousands of murdered American's before we stop taking Moslems in.

If the projection holds, then it would be a further sign of European intolerance towards Islam and Muslims. This adds to recent French and Belgium bans of Hejab, Danemark repeated insults to the Prophet, American and British insults and mistreatments of Muslim prisoners. And above sll the open wars against Muslim and Arab countries in Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan. Russia and China too have their long standing injustices against their own Muslim citizen. On top of that, nearly all Muslim and Arab populations are under despotic regimes, who are imposed and protected by the world powers and who work against their national interests. Sects like Sikh and Tibet are better respected in the world. On the long run, this blatant policies of Muslim hatreds would only harm those short-sided and arrogant countries.

Our Muslims have more freedom than yours!

had not been turned into a political club. The seperation of mosque and state is of paramount importance in Western countries.