- Title: SWITZERLAND: Swiss react to minarets ban
- Date: 1st December 2009
- Summary: VARIOUS MORNING NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
- Embargoed: 16th December 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Switzerland
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Domestic Politics,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA8X4WH2OQBL357MMOP1EF53O3V
- Story Text: Geneva residents react to Swiss vote to ban Muslim minarets.
Switzerland voted to ban the construction of new minarets on Sunday (November 29), in a surprise referendum result.
The Swiss news agency ATS and other media outlets reported about 57.5 percent of voters and all but four of the 26 cantons approved the proposal in a nationwide referendum, which was backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP).
The government and parliament had rejected the initiative as violating the Swiss constitution, freedom of religion and the country's cherished tradition of tolerance. The government had said a ban could "serve the interests of extremist circles".
At Geneva's main mosque early on Monday (November 30) one Muslim man said the referendum result was disappointing.
"The reaction of Muslims to the vote is a sensitive reaction. We are very disappointed especially as we expected the vote to have a different outcome. A favourable one, not an unfavourable one. The reaction in the rest of the world is they feel the same. In Switzerland we are disappointed but I think there is not one person who can now overturn the law."
Other people in Geneva streets expressed their surprise at the referendum result. Others rejected the outcome.
"I was absolutely surprised because I thought that would never pass," said a resident.
"I was actually quite disgusted by the result, I think it's against the fundamental values of freedom of speech and I'm actually kind of ashamed to be Swiss this morning," said another.
"I'm a bit sad, I think that everyone should have the right to practice their own religion and Switzerland should be worth it's reputation as a neutral country," added another person.
Newspaper headlines read "Forbidden in Switzerland" with others calling the result a "disaster".
The Alpine country of nearly seven million is home to more than 300,000 Muslims, mainly from Bosnia, Kosovo and Turkey. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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