The International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty has worriedly taken cognizance of an initiative approved by part of the Swiss population against the presence of minarets. Beyond the minarets themselves, this initiative is perceived as an encroachment upon fundamental human rights. It would have been judicious for the initiative to explain that there is a difference between a symbol of religious worship and the individual person. The Swiss democracy secures everybody, including religious minorities, the right to express one's beliefs within city limits – a perfectly legitimate position. In addition, the Constitution of the Swiss Confederation guarantees every person, including members of minority groups, freedom from threats. This should be expressed in the initiative and clearly understood.

After a campaign using populist and somewhat caricatured arguments, the initiative was voted into law. The result of this vote has introduced an averred discrimination against Moslems. The religious liberty protected by the Constitution is, therefore, seriously threatened.

By its religious neutrality, the State is the safeguard of inter-confessional peace. By its discrimination against the Swiss Moslem community through this new constitutional article, the State runs the risk of tempting extremist elements to radicalize this issue, and thus affect religious peace.

Such an article might be used to jeopardize oppressed Christians in Islamic countries. In any case, the Swiss Confederation should take care not to adopt a dynamics of discrimination and repression against minority groups.

Since this article openly contradicts several articles of the Swiss Federal Constitution (Article 8 – equality of all citizens before the law; Article 15 – liberty of belief; Article 36 – restriction of fundamental rights) and Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which was ratified by Switzerland, the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty strongly questions the manner in which this initiative has been adopted.

The International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty fervently hopes that the amalgamations and generalities that are the basis of the initiative and that led to its ratification will soon be corrected by a reciprocal understanding and by dialogue among the Moslem communities, the political and religious entities and the majority of voters. Some of the values that inspired the foundation of Switzerland seem to have been forgotten. It is everybody’s responsibility to work together honestly and respectfully to restore these lost values.

The International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty affirms that it is necessary to open people's minds and hearts to understand the problems created by the initiative. It is imperative to intervene quickly and efficiently to put an end to such transgressions on human rights and work to strengthen in any circumstances religious liberty, which is one of the foundation stones of human dignity, dignity that belongs to all members of the human family and that is the basis of liberty, justice and peace in the world.

Bern, December 2009