Endangered Switzerland

In spring 2007 the centre-right conservative Swiss People's Party (SVP) got up a petition against the construction of minarets aimed at the holding of a "Vernehmlassung" (by which interest groups are consulted before changes to the law). The required number of signatures was gathered and the Swiss will soon vote on the issue. Hugues Hiltpold, chairman of the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (FDP), criticises the initiative in the Tribune de Genève: "This popular initiative aimed at banning minarets is not directed against Islamic terrorism. Not everything that tapers to a point is a missile. No, the real target of this initiative is religious freedom. ... A few Islamophobic fanatics are exploiting the fears of Islam to whip up a destructive nation-wide debate. The victim of this debate will not be religious extremism but religious peace and dialogue between faiths - and everyone's right to believe or not believe. ... It is our duty to defend the right to be Muslim in Switzerland. ... Switzerland is much more than just another country in this world: it is an idea. What all the Swiss have in common is their will to live in freedom and to ensure that their differences are respected."

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