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Swiss Group Fights Against Islam's Minarets

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 14, 2009 7:24 AM CDT

(Newser) – A debate on freedom of religion featuring ultra-nationalist zealots is playing out in the most unlikely of places: a sleepy hamlet in Switzerland. A group is trying to block the construction of a 30-foot tall minaret on a mosque in Langenthal (pop. 14,000) because it's a symbol of Islam's "desire for power," the Independent reports.

An anti-foreigner political party is leading the charge and wants to make an example of the town ahead of a national referendum on the issue it forced onto the ballot in November. "There may be different laws governing this kind of thing in certain part of Paris or Berlin, but we don't want them in Switzerland," says a campaign leader.

Switzerland is home to some 400,000 Muslims, and mosques have been built in some main cities without much objection.
Switzerland is home to some 400,000 Muslims, and mosques have been built in some main cities without much objection.   (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Conservative campaigners in Switzerland say minarets are an ideological intrusion.
Conservative campaigners in Switzerland say minarets are an "ideological intrusion."   (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
A partial solar eclipse silhouettes birds surrounding a minaret of a shrine in Pakistan.
A partial solar eclipse silhouettes birds surrounding a minaret of a shrine in Pakistan.   (AP Photo/Khalid Tanveer)
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They are symbols of a desire for power, of an Islam which wants to establish a legal and social order fundamentally contrary to the liberties guaranteed in our constitution. - Ulrich Schüler, a politician and leading member of the anti-minaret movement

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Face-Of-RNC
Nov 7, 2009 9:09 AM CST
The haters are taking a break from their death panel and birther discussions.
Face-Of-RNC
Nov 7, 2009 9:07 AM CST
west - apparently you aren't concerned very far. Your assessment is akin to calling Christianity a cult of child rapists just because of a few people in the American west.
Sphinx
Aug 15, 2009 7:35 AM CDT
Trying to put minarets on mosque is not fighting for power. Minarets are a part of every traditional mosque. This whole issue is ridiculous and the level of hate on this page is disgusting.

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