IRFN (July 3-9): Swiss Nationalists Force Referendum on Minaret Ban

 

 

GENEVA - Members of the nationalist Swiss People's Party and the Federal Democratic Union have forced a referendum on banning minarets in Switzerland, AP reported on July 8. The nationalists claim that the minaret is not just a religious symbol, but that it represents a Muslim bid for political power. The referendum, if approved, would contradict Switzerland’s constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. There are currently only two minarets in the nation.

 

 

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s cabinet would like to ban images of religious figures from being used in political campaigns as well as preventing campaigns occurring in places of worship, Reuters reported on July 3. The new legislation is part of a provincial elections law, and political sources believe that the legislation is aimed at Shi’ite factions who have used posters of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the highest Shi'ite religious leader in Iraq, to appeal to voters’ religious sentiments.

 

 

KUALA LUMPUR – The Sikh Gurdwaras Council filed an application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Tuesday seeking to join a suit by The Herald, a Roman Catholic newspaper, against the government’s designation of the word ‘Allah’ for Muslim use only, AP reported on July 4. Originally the government ruled that The Herald could not use the word ‘Allah’ as it would create confusion over which faith’s divinity the term referred to. However, The Herald argues that the word ‘Allah’ is an Arabic word which predates the Islamic faith. The Sikh Council decided to join The Herald’s suit, as their holy book contains the word ‘Allah’ throughout, and restrictions on the use of the term would inhibit the freedom of their religious practice.   

 

 

MILAN - Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has said he will close the Jenner mosque by August in response to complaints from local residents, BBC reported on July 7. The Jenner mosque is based in a converted garage and has outgrown its cramped surroundings resulting in attendees worshipping from the street. The Catholic Church has said that it is in support of the Muslim community and Monsignor Gianfranco Bottoni, the Roman Catholic priest in charge of inter-faith relations in Milan, is of the opinion that only a fascist or populist government would resort to such dictatorial methods as closing a mosque.

 

 

KUALA LUMPUR – The conservative Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party intends to introduce a law to force Muslim civil servants to pray five times a day as required by Islam, AP reported on July 8. The chief minister of Kelantan where the law would take effect, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, said Muslims who shirk their prayer obligations "are not fearful of Allah and are susceptible to committing bribery and other sins." Kelantan is known for its strict morality laws.

 

 

DUSHANBE –President Emomali Rakhmon has directed lawmakers to adopt legislation outlawing “witchcraft”, the New York Times reported on July 8. The lawmakers said that the purpose of the new legislation was: “to eliminate a drain on the poverty-stricken population’s finances, to crack down on “un-Islamic” activity and to reduce the number of people practicing medicine without a license — since the fortunetellers often also prescribe folk remedies.” Though the country is primarily Sunni Muslim there is a large mystic tradition which includes belief in spells, soothsaying and paranormal activities.