The Organisation of Islamic Conference urged Swiss authorities Thursday to annul a vote banning the construction of minarets, saying it could fuel similar moves across Europe. Envoys from the pan-Islamic body's 56 member states brought the request on Thursday to the Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Dante Martinelli, Pakistani ambassador Zamir Akram said.
"The Swiss authorities should use parliamentary and judicial means to reverse the decision," he told AFP. "There is a danger that this could spread, that a new demand could be made" in other European cities against minarets or other Muslim symbols, he said.
Some 57.5 percent of Swiss voters approved on November 29 a far-right move to ban the construction of minarets. The Pakistani envoy called it a "very dangerous trend." "The threat can also spread to other countries in Europe where there are right-wing groups who want also to target the Muslim community. This can cause violence against Muslim communities in these countries," he said. "There were already some attacks, some vandalism against the mosque here in Geneva, it's a very dangerous trend."
The ban was opposed by the Swiss government, the bulk of Switzerland's political parties as well as the economic establishment. However, given that most Swiss voters approved it in a referendum, the ban would now be inscribed in the country's constitution. The move drew widespread criticism from the United Nations, Muslim states, fellow European countries and the Vatican.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay called the ban a "deeply discriminatory, deeply divisive and a thoroughly unfortunate step for Switzerland to take." "I have no hesitation at all in condemning the anti-foreigner scaremongering that has characterised political campaigns in a number of countries, including Switzerland, which helps produce results like this," she added.