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A reaction based on misquided fear
Q: What's your reaction to Sunday's decision by voters in Switzerland to ban construction of minarets, the slender towers from which Muslims are called to daily prayers?
In order to better understand some of the impetus for what happened in Switzerland, a little context, both historical and contemporary, is necessary. Islam is the largest non-Christian religion in Switzerland, and the last decade has seen a 30 percent increase in Muslim immigrants, with most coming from the former Yugoslavia. The banning of minaret construction harkens back how the country reacted at the end of the 19th Century to an influx of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.
In 1893, Switzerland banned shechitah, the Jewish ritual slaughter of animals. Immigrant Jews had been granted rights to settle in the country after an 1874 amendment to the constitution. At first, there were relatively few who immigrated, but as the numbers increased so did a fear that these "outsiders" were too different and were not capable of assimilation. The ban was an indirect way of discouraging new Jews from settling into the country. Eventually, most Swiss came to realize that the increased presence of Jews did not pose a problem, moreover the large number of Jewish intellectuals who took refuge there actually benefited in the country in many ways. Many Swiss Jews have subsequently become distinguished in various fields, from science to economy to the arts.
As for the present situation with Muslims, there are more serious issues involved. The crux of it is really about freedom. Switzerland is considered to be one of the most neutral countries in the world and prides itself on its independence. Additionally, it has a good record overall with respect to religious freedom. The vote was not simply a consequence of religious intolerance of a non-Christian religion. It is too simplistic to see it as a product of anti-Muslim prejudice, and this view misses the underlying issue. The vote and the ban are the result of a fear that many Swiss, and countless others in Europe and the world, have regarding the level of violence that is being perpetuated in the name of Islam by a radical minority within the religion.
The last decade has seen various violent attacks in Europe by Muslim terrorists, coupled with remarks by Muslim religious figures stating their desires to turn Europe into a Muslim controlled continent. During that same time period, a significant number of Swiss moved away from sectarian religious affiliation, especially those who once self-identified as Protestant. To many of them, the growing presence of Islam generates fear and distrust of a new more violent sectarian threat to their independence and lifestyle.
Those who support the ban fear the violence involving Muslims that has occurred in Spain, France, England, and Denmark will make its way to Switzerland. However, the reality in Switzerland suggests the fear seems rather groundless, since the mostly Eastern European Muslim immigrants to Switzerland, who number over 300,000, have blended into and adopted the local culture more than has happened in most other European countries with a visible Muslim presence. Nevertheless, the ban sends a signal to all Muslims living in the country, including the vast majority who are decent human beings, that Switzerland is singling them out for an attack on their beliefs.
Fortunately, Youssef Ibram, imam of the mosque in Geneva, the largest in the country, has called for calm. He asked the faithful to respect the decision, while disagreeing with it. His words reveal the way most Swiss Muslims will hopefully approach the situation. Unfortunately, there may likely be some radical Muslims who will use the unfortunate ban to justify violence, which will then validate the reason for the ban in the eyes of its supporters....and that is the sad reality of hatred and violence. They both can be easily justified by those who use them against others, and they both lead to further hatred, violence, and destruction. As Mahatma Gandhi wisely noted, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." What the Swiss need to do is open their eyes and see that the ban will only benefit extremists on both sides while doing nothing to benefit the county or its people
By
Ramdas Lamb
|
December 4, 2009; 4:11 AM ET
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Posted by: Fred75 | December 5, 2009 5:56 PM
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Dear Prof. Lamb
Many thanks for your answer that exhibits a very good understanding of Swiss culture and society.
It is, indeed, wrong (and very easy) to explain the Swiss vote with primitive fear or even with stubborn xenophobia. Switzerland has a long democratic history, and it represents the successful attempt to integrate people of several ethnics, languages, and religions into one community. Switzerland has succeeded in the long term - certainly not all multiethnic states can say that.
While it is elsewhere still going strong to measure the degree of civilization of a society at the highest possible proportion of migrants, many Swiss feel quite differently. They think that living together is more worthwile than living in parallel (in "ghettos"). This conception has ensured utmost freedom for every single person in Switzerland. That's also why Swiss are not reluctant to look at immigration from the perspective of whether it fits the community with their shared values (e.g. democracy, principle of equal opportunities, equal rights for women, etc.) or not.
Of course, fears have been conjured and some might have voted in favor of the minaret ban because they see in every Muslim a potential terrorist. And that grieves me.
For small states, so said Montesquieu, direct democracy fits. Switzerland has the direct democracy and practices it with passion and conviction. Swiss citizens take their political responsabilities very seriously in all wha matters the public affairs of the community. The fact that 57.5% of participants have expressed themselves in the vote against the further construction of minarets, is an information about which one should take enough time to think.
Posted by: Fred75 | December 5, 2009 5:53 PM
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Dear Prof. Lamb
Many thanks for your answer that exbibits impressive knowledge of Swiss society and culture.
It is, indeed, wrong (and very easy) to explain the Swiss vote with primitive fear or even with stubborn xenophobia. Switzerland has a long democratic history, and it represents the successful attempt to integrate people of several ethnics, languages, and religions into one community. Switzerland has succeeded in the long term - certainly not all multiethnic states can say that.
While it is elsewhere still going strong to measure the degree of civilization of a society at the highest possible proportion of migrants, many Swiss feel quite differently. They think that living together is more worthwile than living in parallel (in "ghettos"). This conception has ensured utmost freedom for every single person in Switzerland. That's also why Swiss are not reluctant to look at immigration from the perspective of whether it fits the community with their shared values (e.g. democracy, principle of equal opportunities, equal rights for women, etc.) or not.
Of course, fears have been conjured and some might have voted in favor of the minaret ban because they see in every Muslim a potential terrorist. And that grieves me.
For small states, so said Montesquieu, direct democracy fits. Switzerland has the direct democracy and practices it with passion and conviction. Swiss citizens take their political responsabilities very seriously in all wha matters the public affairs of the community. The fact that 57.5% of participants have expressed themselves in the vote against the further construction of minarets, is an information about which one should take enough time to think.