Published on Nov 27 2009 by Farooq Aftab, Huddersfield

I WRITE in relation to the recent debate on banning the construction of Minarets in Switzerland.
On November 29 the Swiss will vote on a referendum to ban the construction of Minarets, initiated by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), who argue that a Minaret is a symbol of Islamic intolerance.Š

The Minaret is a peaceful religious symbol as spires are on churches. If this legislation is passed it would directly discriminate against Islam. The main function of a Minaret is to provide a vantage point from which Muslims are called to prayer.

The call to prayer from a Minaret can be likened to the ringing of bells from a church tower – both signifying a place and time where religious worship is about to take place.ŠIn many European countries where there are restrictions on the call to prayer being played through a loudspeaker from the Minaret, the Minaret is a key architectural feature to signify the building as a mosque.

It is quite clear that the SVP wants to scare their population into believing that all Muslims share the values and beliefs of the minority extremist and terrorist militants who misrepresent Islam through their heinous crimes and twisted ideology.Š
This is as illogical as it is to suggest that all British people sharing the values of the British National Party and all American citizens share the same values as the Klu Klux Klan. It simply is not true.

As with all societies, in some muslim countries and communities there is an illiterate or largely uneducated portion who can be led astray by right wing views in times of tension and hardship.

The key to resolving this on all sides is to increase our tolerance and understanding of each other, strengthen our multi-faith and multi-cultural ties and work towards greater peace and harmony.

Muslims believe that Islam means peace and instructs them – both in the Quran and the sayings of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) – to live and abide by the laws of the country they live in.

The West provides a safe haven for many muslims who are free to practice their faith, live their personal lives according to Islamic teachings, build and worship in mosques.

Some argue that this gives rise to Islamisation and are threatened, but the truth is that if you have confidence in your culture, tradition and religion, you’re not threatened by anything else.

Perhaps this debate says more about the decline of Swiss culture than the rise of muslim culture in Switzerland. There is nothing to fear from Islam, which is completely synonymous and exists in harmony within a secular society.

The key is tolerance and engagement which will enable us to have a better understanding of each other to remove any misconceptions, stereotypes and prejudices.