As Europe tries to cope with discrimination and establish an order where all are treated equally no matter what their religious or ethnic background -- criticizing countries that fail to observe the rights of minorities -- the minaret referendum in Switzerland has disappointed many regarding Europe’s talk of respect for others. While some describe the result of the referendum as an indication of xenophobia, others find the move very alarming and worrisome for the future of Europe.Akşam’s İsmail Küçükkaya thinks the banning of minarets in Switzerland, which currently number only four despite 400,000 Muslims living in the country, is another phase of the “clash of civilizations” thesis. Admitting that every country imposes bans on the religious symbols of some faiths, he says the case in Switzerland is more unfortunate and has disturbing aspects as this is a first in world history. In his view, taking such a sensitive issue to referendum and making it a constitutional article is unacceptable and a dangerous move for the country. “Can issues which fall into the scope of human rights, freedom of faith, be left to the approval of the public? Can issues which have a potential to foment tension between communities and civilizations be left to the approval of the public? Europe made humanity suffer great pain due to the administrators ‘thinking small.’ Is that mentality still so effective today?” asks Küçükkaya.
Saying that racism and xenophobia do not befit a civilized country, Sabah’s Nazlı Ilıcak says the minaret referendum in Switzerland showed that there is xenophobia in the country as 57 percent of the Swiss said “no” to minarets. In her view, the public saying no to minarets has something more to do with xenophobia than fear of Islam or fundamentalism, noting that a mentality which cannot bear differences and foreigners is in question here. “Is it possible not to see the cold and uncompromising resistance which lies behind the seeming politeness?” asks Ilıcak. She says the headscarf ban in France and minaret ban in Switzerland demonstrate the same mentality: xenophobia, discrimination and lack of respect for what is different.
Star’s İbrahim Kiras says Switzerland took a fatal test with the minaret referendum, and lost its bid to be a “small Europe” because of its mixture of citizens from various religions and races. Talking about Europe’s attempt since the French Revolution to establish a social order where people from different races, beliefs, languages and genders are treated equally, Kiras says the minaret referendum in Switzerland deflated this dream balloon with a Swiss Army knife.
