Why Is Muslim Humanity Not Honored in Switzerland?

Switzerland voters have crossed over into dangerous territory by their hurtful decision to ban further construction of Muslim minarets. Minarets are apart of the mosques that Muslims are called to prayer to everyday, but now in their near future they will have to go without their sacramental architecture in the construction of further erected mosques. This places Muslims in a place of the "otherness". Muslims have been singled out and their faith is now being criticized and demeaned by the actions of right-winged Switzerland groups such as Swiss People's Party, and the Federal Democratic Union. The ban passed because the Switzerland constitution allows for a group of people to gather 100,000 signatures to promote an initiative, and once this is done a vote can be taken for or against it. This is not right.

We live in a pluralistic world that encapsulates many different religions and practices. Everyone has their own right to worship in their own way. To ban these Muslim minarets - is stripping the Muslim world of their full humanity. In order to realize the full humanity of a person you must accept their decisions in totality - religion included. We do not live in a world that has a universalized global religion. This Earth is one big melting pot of religious views. I am quite sure that the Muslims feel a bit of uneasiness now to be a resident of a society that bans the totality of their religious freedom. To the Switz's minarets are just architecture, to Muslims it’s an important religious monument. In fact it’s been said that Muslims believe that minarets are the "gate from heaven and earth". The erection of this in addition to their mosques is important and pivotal to their faith. This should be taken into consideration.

Muslims account for the lowest percentage of practiced religions in Switzerland, with Catholicism and Protestantism being the head leaders. The Muslims are already a minority in Switzerland, but now they are the majority in being marginalized. What if other world leaders sent out a petition to ban the construction of crucifixes in cathedrals or altars in the sanctuaries of the Catholics and Protestants? The people of Switzerland must not be so conservative when it comes to religious freedom. There must be a call for love and a realization and acceptance of diversity. There is a beauty in diversity, because it allows for us to appreciate and to experience the totality and the beauty of our Creator. Within this beauty lie the lives of Muslims, not only their lives, but the beauty and sanctity of their minarets.