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swissinfo.ch - dossier on the minaret controversy in Switzerland

Berne (ots)

On November 29 the Swiss will decide on whether to
ban the construction of minarets. As the debate heats up, 
swissinfo.ch explores the issues behind the vote. swissinfo.ch's 
English dossier explains the controversy and offers a wealth of 
background information.
Switzerland's system of direct democracy enables any citizen or 
pressure group to demand a change in the constitution if they can 
collect 100,000 signatures within 18 months.
In July 2008 the rightwing Swiss People's Party handed in an 
initiative, "Against the Construction of Minarets", to the government
with 113,540 valid signatures. The text is just one sentence long: 
"The construction of minarets is prohibited." The Swiss population 
will decide on November 29 whether this sentence is added to the 
constitution.
Are soaring towers on mosques a threat to Swiss culture or a sign 
of tolerance and democracy?
Supporters see minarets not as religious but political symbols and
as a sign of what they term the "Islamicisation" of Switzerland. 
Opponents see the ban as infringing human rights and harmful to 
Switzerland's image. A ban on minaret construction would threaten the
peaceful co-existence of Christians and Muslims in the country, 
believes Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. The Swiss 
government and parliament are recommending voters reject the 
initiative.
How did the initiative come about? What is its intention? What 
effect will it have? What do Muslims but also Swiss think of the 
initiative? These and other questions are examined in the 
swissinfo.ch dossier. It contains background information, analysis 
and features, as well as interviews with politicians and religious 
representatives.
The information is provided in multimedia form, with text 
supplemented by videos and galleries. The Minaret Debate swissinfo 
dossier is available in English.
Follow this link to the swissinfo dossier: 
http://www.swissinfo.ch/minaretdebate
swissinfo.ch is an enterprise of the Swiss Broadcasting 
Corporation, SRG SSR idée suisse. It is tasked with informing Swiss 
living abroad about events in their homeland, as well as increasing 
awareness of Switzerland abroad. swissinfo's news and information 
platform - www.swissinfo.ch - is in nine languages.
swissinfo journalists are available to answer questions and give 
interviews on this issue. If you are interested in an interview, 
please contact Katrin Schmitter.

Contact:

Katrin Schmitter, Public Relations
Tel.: +41/31/350'95'50
E-Mail: Katrin.schmitter@swissinfo.ch

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