European Journal # Switzerland: Debate on the Minaret Ban # 18.11.2009

The right-wing populist Swiss People's Party (SVP) hopes to enact a building ban on minarets. In the run-up to the referendum on November 29, the SVP is campaigning with a provocative placard depicting a veiled Muslim woman in front of missile-like minarets casting a shadow on the Swiss flag. According to polls, a majority of Swiss voters oppose the ban. But the 400,000 Muslims living in Switzerland are outraged by the campaign, voicing their protest in online forums. Both the Swiss government and the country's churches are criticizing the SVP's attempt and worried about the potential harm to Switzerland's international reputation.