[JP title: "Resistance to Islamization"]
What importance has the recent Swiss referendum to ban the buildingof minarets (spires next to mosques from which the call to prayer isissued)?
Some may see the 57.5 to 42.5 percent decision endorsing aconstitutional amendment as nearly meaningless. The politicalestablishment being overwhelmingly opposed to the amendment, the banwill probably never go into effect. Only 53.4 percent of the electoratevoted, so a mere 31 percent of the whole population endorses the ban.The ban does not address Islamist aspirations, much less Muslimterrorism. It has no impact on the practice of Islam. It preventsneither the building of new mosques nor requires that Switzerland'sfour existing minarets be demolished.
It's also possible to dismiss the vote as the quirky result of Switzerland's unique direct democracy, a tradition that goes back to 1291 and exists nowhere else in Europe. Josef Joffe,the distinguished German analyst, sees the vote as a populist backlashagainst the series of humiliations the Swiss have endured in recentyears culminating in the seizure of two businessmen in Libya and the Swiss president's mortifying apology to win their release.
However, I see the referendum as consequential, and well so beyond Swiss borders.
 "Our Lady of the Rosary," Qatar's first Christian church, lacks cross, bell, dome, steeple, and signage. |
First, it raises delicate issues of reciprocity in Muslim-Christian relations. A few examples: When Our Lady of the Rosary,
Qatar'sfirst-ever church opened in 2008, it did so minus cross, bell, dome,steeple, or signboard. Rosary's priest, Father Tom Veneracion,explained their absence: "The idea is to be discreet because we don'twant to inflame any sensitivities." And when the Christians of a townin Upper
Egypt,Nazlet al-Badraman, finally after four years of "laborious negotiation,pleading, and grappling with the authorities," won permission inOctober to restore a tottering tower at the Mar-Girgis Church, a
mob of about 200 Muslimsattacked them, throwing stones and shouting Islamic and sectarianslogans. The situation for Copts is so bad, they have reverted tobuilding
secret churches.
Why, the Catholic Churchand others are asking, should Christians suffer such indignities whileMuslims enjoy full rights in historically Christian countries? TheSwiss vote fits into this new spirit. Islamists, of course, reject this premise of equality; Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottakiwarned his Swiss counterpart of unspecified "consequences" of what hecalled anti-Islamic acts, implicitly threatening to make the minaretban an international issue comparable to the Danish cartoon fracas of 2006.
 Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki warns of "consequences" for anti-Islamic acts. |
Second, Europe stands at a crossroads with respect to its Muslim population. Of the
three main future prospects– everyone getting along, Muslims dominating, or Muslims rejected – thefirst is highly improbable but the second and third seem equallypossible. In this context, the Swiss vote represents a potentiallyimportant legitimation of anti-Islamic views. The vote inspired supportacross Europe, as signaled by online polling sponsored by themainstream media and by statements from leading figures. Here follows asmall sampling:
France: 49,000 readers at Le Figaro, by a 73-27 percent margin, would vote to ban new minarets in their country. 24,000 readers at L'Express agreed by an 86-12 percent margin, with 2 percent undecided. A leading columnist, Ivan Rioufol of Le Figaro, wrote an article titled "Homage to the Resistance of the Swiss People." President Nicolas Sarkozywas quoted as saying that "the people, in Switzerland as in France,don't want their country to change, that it be denatured. They want tokeep their identity."
Germany: 29.000 readers at Der Spiegel voted 76-21 percent, with 2 percent undecided, to ban minarets in Germany. 17,000 readers of Die Welt voted 82-16 in favor of "Yes, I feel cramped by minarets" over "No, freedom of religion is constrained."
Spain: 14,000 readers of 20 Minutosvoted 93-6 percent in favor of the statement "Good, we must curbIslamization's growing presence" and against "Bad, it is an obstacle tothe integration of immigrants." 35,000 readers of El MUndo replied 80-20 percent that they support a Swiss-like banning of minarets.
Although not scientific, the lop-sidedness of these (and other)polls, ranging from 73 to 93 percent majorities endorsing the Swissreferendum, signal that Swiss voters represent growing anti-Islamicsentiments throughout Europe. The new amendment also validates andpotentially encourages resistance to Islamization throughout thecontinent.
For these reasons, the Swiss vote represents a possible turning point for European Islam.
Mr. Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum and Taubedistinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of StanfordUniversity.
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Dec. 9, 2009 update: (1) A scientific poll of Belgians sponsored by Le Soirweekly and carried out by iVOX finds that 59.3 percent of the Belgianpopulation favors a Swiss-like prohibition on building new minarets and56.7 percent want to ban the building of mosques. The poll of 1,050persons was taken on December 3 through 5 and has an accuracy of within3 percent.
(2) For other European opinions, see here and here.
(3) This column builds on a blog initially publishd on Nov. 30, "The Swiss Ban on Minarets: A Possible Turning Point," with many updates.
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