ENI — The Swiss Council of Religions, which includes Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, has issued a statement rejecting a call for the country to ban the construction of minarets at mosques.
“For the members of a religious community, religious buildings are not only places to gather but also a symbol of their faith and an expression of their reverence for God. For many Muslims, therefore, mosques need to have minarets,” the council stated in a five page declaration published on Sept. 2.
“The prohibition of minarets would injure these people in their dignity and their basic right to practise their religion,” the council warned.
The initiative to ban the construction of minarets was submitted on July 8, 2008 with just under 115,000 signatures, and will be voted on by Swiss citizens in a national referendum in November.
According to the council, the statement is the first time the national body, composed of Jews, Christians and Muslims, has issued a joint statement about a matter being voted on by Swiss citizens.
