|
UN rep Asma Jahangir warns Swiss over minaret ban
[Dawn] A UN human rights expert warned on Monday that a Swiss referendum vote banning new minarets restricted religious freedom and violated Switzerland's international treaty obligations.'I therefore urge the Swiss authorities to abide by all its international obligations and to take the necessary measures to fully protect the right to freedom of religion or belief of members of the Muslim community,' said Asma Jahangir, UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. 'As also stated by the United Nations Human Rights Committee a month ago, such a ban is contrary to Switzerland's obligations under international human rights law,' the statement released by the United Nations added. In a referendum on Sunday, more than 57 per cent of voters approved a right wing proposal to ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland. The vote had no impact on mosques themselves or religious worship, according to the Swiss government, which had opposed the ban. However, Jahangir insisted that a ban marked 'clear discrimination' against Switzerland's Muslim community. 'I have deep concerns at the negative consequences that the outcome of the vote will have on the freedom of religion or belief of members of the Muslim community in Switzerland.' 'Indeed, a ban on minarets amounts to an undue restriction of the freedom to manifest one's religion and constitutes a clear discrimination against members of the Muslim community in Switzerland,' she added. The 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Switzerland has ratified along with 164 other countries, obliges governments to protect and respect freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The Swiss Green Party has also said that it was considering an appeal against the ban to the European Court of Human Rights. The Swiss People's Party, the country's biggest political group and the only mainstream force to back the ban, warned Monday that it would rather pull out of international treaties than submit to a UN or European decision. Although it captured some 28 per cent of the vote in the last general election, the right wing SVP cannot command a parliamentary majority on its own. Freedom of worship is one of the cornerstones of Switzerland's founding constitution. Posted by: Fred 2009-12-02 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=284639 |