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Showing posts from December, 2009

The Switzerland Minaret Prohibition Christian Fanaticism and Idiocy

Dominic Asquith, British Ambassador to Egypt The result of the Swiss referendum about whether those building mosques in Switzerland should be allowed to erect minarets has raised again the question in the minds of many whether this is "proof" of an inevitable conflict between the West and Islam. Those who want to emphasise the differences between Islam and western civilisation have jumped on the result to argue that there can be no coexistence. What has struck me, however, is how thoughtful, in many cases self-critical, the commentary has been in the media. This is important, because how Muslims react - whether in the West or in countries where there is a majority of Muslims - will influence the future relationship. Fawzia al Ashmawy, the head of the Egyptian community in Switzerland and of the Euro-Muslim Institute, was clear in her advice to governments and religious establishments. "Don't interfere or exaggerate," she said. Muslims in Switzerland enjoyed th

The Preachers Who Recount the Adam and Eve Story in the Garden are Idiots, Crooks or Just Making a Living

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Fairy tale. The preachers who recount the Adam and Eve along with the serpent bible story when they were in the Garden are one of two things: Idiots and dummies or clever crooks who are deceiving the congregation in the church.

Christian Fanaticism in Switzerland

GENEVA – A Swiss ban on minarets could violate fundamental liberties, Europe's top human-rights watchdog said Monday in an indication that the heavily criticized vote could be overturned. The Council of Europe said banning "new minarets in Switzerland raises concerns as to whether fundamental rights of individuals, protected by international treaties, should be subject to popular votes." The statement by the 47-nation council's secretary-general, Thorbjorn Jagland, suggests a case may be made to seek a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights condemning Switzerland for violating freedom of expression, freedom of religion and prohibition of discrimination. Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said the ban would come into force immediately, but also indicated that the court could strike down the Sunday vote, which incurred swift condemnation at home and abroad for banning the towers used to put out the Islamic call to prayer. "The ban contradicts the