In www.sphere.com (listed on AOL News) there was a report that is particularly disturbing to the spirit of tolerance in Europe and throughout the western world. The little country of Switzerland has voted to ban the building of minarets, the tall towers used to call people to prayer in Islamic countries. According to the article, the people of Switzerland in a referendum voted to outlaw the building of such structures by a vote of 57.5 percent. The referendum will now become law and be made into an amendment to the Swiss constitution according to the same report.
The report also went on to say that other countries in Europe are trying to ban other types of Islamic symbols such as the burqa, the all covering head to toe garment worn by Muslim women. And France in 2004 banned the use of veils and other Islamic dress in state schools.
Is seems that to this examiner that there is some sort of backlash against Islamic tradition and that there is a palpable fear of the influence of Islamic culture throughout the western world. While the examiner is not Muslim nor does he endorse the way Muslims dress and he disagrees with many of the tenants of the Islamic religion, isn't tolerance a hallmark of western culture, including the United States, Western Europe, and other industrialized nations throughout the world? Isn't the right to practice one's religion a fundamental right? This law in Switzerland was not done for safety reasons or for the protection of human life and welfare, but it appears to be a fear reaction to Islamic influence and society.
But it should also be noted, that while tolerance and respect and freedom of religion is considered a fundamental right in western nations, that many Islamic nations do not reciprocate this value. In Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, all other religions are outlawed. And many Islamic nations do not have the same degree of tolerance to Christianity, Judaism other monotheistic religions, often forcing them to pay special taxes, and posting social and political restrictions. And polytheists have been often forced to convert or face imprisonment, sanctions, torture and even death in some Islamic countries.
But just because many Islamic societies do not practice tolerance, does not mean that westerners should be intolerant to Muslims -- even if you disagree with their values, beliefs and social practices. Tolerance and freedom of religion is the bedrock of western democracies and is a fundamental human right. While fear of terrorism from extremist groups of Islam is certainly part of the reason for the fear and the backlash, Switzerland of all countries should know better.
http://www.sphere.com/2009/11/30/will-swiss-ban-on-minarets-set-a-european-trend/
Comments
Yes, it is the right thing to do. If people started to learn about Islam you would realize that it is more political than religious and those symbols mean, to them, that they are now owners of the area and they are to wage (often violent) Jihad against the unbelievers - for Allah.
Tolerating intolerance is not toleration. In fact, if you learn about Islam you would realize that it is on the same level of tolerating Stalin's fascism, or Hitler's Nazism. The end is the same for non-Muslims whether we live in the West of the Middle East- death, subjugation if we do not want to convert to their cult of hatred and death. Islam is about us.
Dr. Bill Warner of the Center for the Study of Political Islam has done extensive statistical analysis of the doctrine.
62% of Koran is devoted to how Islam interacts with the Kafir (or, the unbeliever)
98% of the Sira is devoted to the struggle against kafirs.
70% is jihad;
28% is argument and insults.
Yes, tolerance is a hallmark of Western culture. However, there is a limit to everything. In the West, we have gone so far as to tolerate intolerance, and that is a crime. Islam is the most violent, religiously bigoted and intolerant religion on the planet. To oppose Islamic intolerance is to promote tolerance. Bravo to the Swiss for the first, rather timid, step whose message is the Moslems are welcome to practice their religion, but they are not welcome to change the nature of the host country. Minarets are symbols of Muslim power, especially in the West. They are not necessary at all for the practice of Islam, espcecially in the modern age when everyone knows what time it is. The Moslem faithful do not need to be called to prayer by a muezzin in a minaret. Moslems in the West need to adapt to their host country and assimilate; they should not expect their host country to adapt to them. The Swiss did us all a service with this ban on minarets.
In case anyone is not clear about Islamic religious bigotry and aggression, here are a few passages from their Koran:
-- Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve. (8.55)
--The unbelievers are your inveterate enemy. (4:101)
-- Mohammed is God's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another. (48:29).
-- Make war on them until idolatry shall cease and God's religion shall reign supreme. (8:40)
-- Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God's religion reigns supreme. (2:193)
-- We will put terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. (3:151)
-- I shall cast terror into the hearts of the infidels. Strike off their heads, strike off the very tips of their fingers. (8:12)
There is a lot more where these came from. And, the sayings of Muhammad are just a bad. Minarets or no minarets, this is what is preached in all mosques, including those in Switzerland and America.
@staffsgt7: Your arguements are very one-sided.
Have you read the Quran yourself? Do you even know what the word Jihad means?
I have read and studied the Quran in its original language (Arabic) and I can tell you that those results that this Bill Warner came up with are false.
Instead of spreading hatred you should read the Quran....it is far more peaceful than you think.
I understand Westerners debating and even criticizing Minaret ban in Switzerland. However, what I don't understand is how come these islamic countries who strongly encourage islam in their countries at the expense of other religions criticizing this ban?
Muslims living in Western countries should form organizations advocating secularism to the islamic countries. This way, probably Westerners would gain some faith in their muslim countrymen.
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