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02 December 2009, 11:54Minaret ban in Switzerland does not restrict religious freedom - Russian Church envoy to Council of Europe
Moscow, December 2, Interfax - Hegumen Filaret (Bulekov), a Moscow Patriarchate representative at the Council of Europe, doesn't share the view of those who consider the outcome of a recent referendum in Switzerland, in which a majority of voters supported a ban on building new minarets in the country, as a violation of freedom of religion.
"Accusing Switzerland that it is somehow discriminating against the Islamic minority would be at least lopsided. Second, Switzerland has no restrictions on building prayer homes either for Christians, or for Muslims, or for members of other religions," Father Filaret told Interfax in commenting on the Swiss referendum.
Switzerland's cities have "quite capacious mosques with absolutely visible minarets, and therefore, if you can talk about a restriction of the right of religion, you should make a lot of reservations," he said.
"The issue of minarets is not an issue of religious freedom, but it is an issue of political presence of people of a certain faith and ethnic background in a country. Taking into account a rapid rate of Islamization, visible signs of Muslims' presence would have, in particular, a political tint," he said.
The issue of minarets "can be a subject of public discussion, including a referendum," Father Filaret said. By voting against the building of new minarets in Switzerland, most Swiss citizens have actually voted against the changing of the traditional cultural environment by immigrants, he said.
"As many Muslim states are currently speaking categorically against the referendum and its outcome, I would like to point out that the countries with overwhelming Islamic majorities have significant restrictions on the construction of Christian churches as visible signs of Christian presence," the priest said.
At the same time, the outcome of the Swiss referendum has highlighted the question as to "whether the restriction of minorities' rights can be put up for public discussion," he said.
"The referendum itself was held quite incorrectly. I mean above all the advertising that was used by those supporting the ban on building new minarets. In my view, some of these posters looked like the anti-Islamic cartoons that earlier produced such an outburst of anger in both Europe and the Islamic world," Father Filaret said.
On the one hand, the rule of law principle "was absolutely followed in Switzerland, but on the other, [it turns out that] an overwhelming majority can use democratic institutions to restrict some minorities' rights stipulated by international agreements," he said. |
