First, it raises delicate issues of reciprocity in Muslim-Christian relations.
A few examples:
When Our Lady of the Rosary, Qatar’s first-ever church, opened last year, 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’t want to inflame any sensitivities.”
And when the Christians of a town in upper Egypt, Nazlet al-Badraman, finally after four years of “laborious negotiation, pleading and grappling with the authorities”, won permission in October to restore a tottering tower at the Mar-Girgis Church, a mob of about 200 Muslims attacked them, throwing stones and shouting Islamic and sectarian slogans. The situation for Copts is so bad, they have reverted to building secret churches.
Why, the Catholic Church and others are asking, should Christians suffer such indignities while Muslims enjoy full rights in historically Christian countries? The Swiss vote fits into this new spirit. 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 — the first is highly improbable but the second and third seem equally possible. In this context, the Swiss vote represents a potentially important legitimisation of anti-Islamic views.
[En gennemgang af meningsmålinger i Europa om minareter]
Although not scientific, the lop-sidedness of these (and other) polls, ranging from 73 to 93 per cent majorities endorsing the Swiss referendum, signal that Swiss voters represent growing anti-Islamic sentiments throughout Europe. The new amendment also validates and potentially encourages resistance to Islamisation throughout the continent.
For these reasons, the Swiss vote represents a possible turning point for European Islam.
Daniel Pipes
Hodja
husmanden
Jernhesten
nicolaisennels
trumfes
Hodjanernes Blog 