The minaret is a distinctive architectural feature of the mosque. Minarets are generally tall spires with conical crowns, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure.
The main function of the minaret is to provide a vantage point from which the call to prayer (Adhan) is made five times each day. In some mosques the minaret also functions as an air conditioning mechanism: as the sun heats the dome, air is drawn in through open windows then up and out of the minaret, thereby providing natural ventilation. And some old mosques, such as great mosque of Damascus, minarets originally served as illuminated watchtowers.
But whatever its function today, Muslims perceive the minaret as an intrinsic component of the structure of the mosque. Seeing the minaret makes Muslims feel that they are in their comfort zone, it makes them feel at home. For many Muslims living in the west, the minaret treats their homesickness.
The number of Muslims in Switzerland in particular was limited until the 1970s, but has grown rapidly since and is expected to reach 400,000 by next year. Muslims in Switzerland come from a wide range of backgrounds: more than half from the former Yugoslavia, a fifth from Turkey and six per cent from North Africa and the Middle East, with indigenous Muslims making up 12 per cent. Swiss Muslims are a divided group, with efforts to unite them across the country having limited success thus far. This lack of unity has made them an easy target for their opponents.
On the 8 July this year a group of Swiss citizens submitted a petition to the government, signed by 114,895 of their fellow Swiss, which called for a ban on the construction of minarets in the country – despite there being only four minarets in all of Switzerland!
Although most political parties, Churches and religious communities rejected the proposal on the basis of their belief in freedom of religion, the issue was never the less put to the vote in a referendum. The outcome saw the Swiss people overwhelmingly back the ban, which has how been ratified by the Swiss government, which apparently does not perceive it as a breach of international law or citizen’s rights.
According to the European Convention on Human Rights, which was ratified by Switzerland in 35 years ago, everyone has the right of freedom of religion, including the right to practice one’s beliefs. The convention also expressly notes the right to build places of worship. The Swiss ban is clearly in contravention of this.
In today’s world, there are international movements to protect the world from global warming. But there seems to be no such movement to protect the rights of religious minorities in the west. In fact, situations such as the Swiss minaret band put barriers in the way of building a harmonious society.
Coexistence is in essence reciprocal – but what the Swiss have done is nothing of the sort. Switzerland should realize that what has happened is a reminder of the dark ages, and contradicts the European symphony of democracy. And at the same time, the EU must expressly condemn this ban and those who proposed it if it is to truly defend our democratic values.
Ali Selim is a Dublin based theologian and spokesman at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland
aliselim_2000@yahoo.com
