UNCHR say the Swiss ban on minarets is a sign of Islamophobia

UN rights body to condemn Swiss ban on minaret

Press TV, Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:58:07 GMT

The UNCHR member states say the Swiss ban on minarets is a sign of Islamophobia.

The United Nations Council of Human Rights is intended to condemn a move by Switzerland to impose a ban on the construction of new minarets in the Alpine nation, characterizing the measure as "Islamophobic."

A draft resolution proposed by the Muslim states for consideration in the 47-member council, "strongly condemns ... the ban on construction of minarets of mosques and other recent discriminatory measures," AFP said.

Such actions are "manifestations of Islamophobia that stand in sharp contradiction to international human rights obligations concerning freedoms of religion, belief, conscience and expression."

They "fuel discrimination, extremism, and misperception leading to polarization and fragmentation with dangerous unintended and unforeseen consequences," cautioned the draft resolution.

The draft resolution is to be put to the Council for adoption by the end of the month.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has described the ban as a "deeply discriminatory, deeply divisive and a thoroughly unfortunate step for Switzerland to take."

The Organization of the Islamic Conference has also called on Swiss officials to abandon the move.

In a referendum last year the Swiss voted to stop Muslims building more minarets, a move that met with global condemnations.

RB/MMN

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