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 Sunday, 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.

The minaret is a peaceful religious symbol as spires are on churches. If this legislation is passed, it would directly discriminate against Islam.

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. Both sides have to avoid pandering to the fear-mongering efforts of the Right-wing to further destabilise the situation.

Muslims believe that Islam means peace and instructs them 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 practise their faith, live their personal lives according to Islamic teachings, build and worship in mosques. Therefore, they do not need or want to establish a "legal and social order" and impose this on the very civilisation that has provided them with all these freedoms.

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 are 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