Main focus of Friday, December 4, 2009

Minaret ban still making waves

The debate over the Swiss referendum against minarets continues. The media condemn illiberal traditions and the lacking sense of community in Europe.

Der Standard - Austria

It is time for a basic discussion on European traditions, writes the daily Der Standard in view of the Swiss minaret ban, especially when it compares the liberal traditions in Europe and the US: "There's no point calling for an end to critical discussion of Islam, which is both acceptable and necessary. But more is needed. Europe's liberals turned away in disgust from the US under former president George W. Bush when he began to trample not only on international law, but also on the rights of US citizens after 9/11. But the US have never so much as tried to do something like banning minarets. Something like that is completely unthinkable there. Here people are starting to worry - and even to suspect - that since Europe has the stronger tradition of illiberality, it is perhaps in greater jeopardy of losing its traditions altogether. Is this the explanation for certain developments - not only having to do with 'Islam' and the 'worries of the population'?" (04/12/2009)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Weltanschauung, » Europe, » U.S., » Global
All available articles from » Gudrun Harrer

De Standaard - Belgium

The Swiss are trying to hold back time, writes the writer Oscar van den Boogaard in his column for the daily De Standaard. In his view many fail to see that if migration means change, it also brings a vital contribution to society: "Why not say yes to minarets? Why not embrace change? There's no such thing as a neutral society. Let every individual live out his own freedom and convictions, provided he respects those of others. ... How soulless Flemish country life has become. The villages are abandoned, the churches empty. Shutters remain closed, and people no longer sit before their doors on summer evenings. Nature is ruined and overplanned, while everyone has locked themselves away in their own little palaces, feeling like cosmopolitans because they're connected to the Internet. Could it be that we're envious of minarets because they adorn places that are attended by people who willingly call each other brothers and sisters?" (04/12/2009)

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Integration, » Belgium, » Switzerland
All available articles from » Oscar van den Boogaard

La Vanguardia - Spain

Religious freedom should only be restricted if the basic values of a free society are under threat, writes Francesc-Marc Alvaro in the liberal daily La Vanguardia, commenting on the minaret ban in Switzerland: "My thesis is that we should only defend ourselves against customs, behaviours and rules that jeopardise our basic values. The headscarf doesn't affect our basic values, but for example a Muslim male doctor who is not allowed to make a house call to a Muslim woman does, as do parents who demand separate visiting times for their daughters at public swimming pools or who resist compulsory school education for their children."  (04/12/2009)

» more information (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Integration, » Spain, » Switzerland
All available articles from » Francesc-Marc Álvaro

» To the complete press review of Friday, December 4, 2009