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Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:29 GMT 10:29 UK

Centralized governments hate the Swiss system of self -determination by national referendums. The elite thinks it soley has the intelligence, right and priveledge to rule. Surely the freedom of a society is no greater than the political freedom of the indvidual. The Swiss vote should be seen as a triumph of democracy in a world where the political rights of the indvidual are barely existent. End game world government? In Switzerland the citizen still has a vote.

chris, zurich

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:28 GMT 10:28 UK

I think the ban should include all kinds of typical religious structures, especially those located in metropolitans. Now the Swiss have become naked as intolerant and their "equal rights" propaganda was taylored to suit certain sect than others.
I know that a Church was built in a Gulf State to serve few Christians, and a Synagogue was built in a big African State to please few Jews. If one of those banned the Shrines, the Swiss will come first to protest and lecture about non-existing values,

Mike Stami

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:28 GMT 10:28 UK

I miss another aspect: In my view, there is a kind of European architectural landscape, so I am not against minarets in general but against white missile looking minarets between gothic or barock churches and byzantine style synagogues (most of the German ones were totally demolished by the Nazis in Nov 1938). So if the Muslim community is going to become European it would be a nice gesture if the boards and architects decided to construct a new type of European minarets with a piece of colour.

Walter Bauhaus, Dessau, Germany

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:26 GMT 10:26 UK

I would like to congratulate the Swiss people for their courageous decision to vote for the ban of the minarets! Kelvin and Munar should check the destruction of the Churches in Northern Cyprus from the occupiers the Turks. The have taken down the icons and sold them in the black market. Furthermore they have refused the Greek-Cypriots having a church mass and the renovation of the churches. As a result of that most of them are in bad condition. Where is the cultural respect!!!!!!!!

Alexander van Bommel

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:26 GMT 10:26 UK

...I only want the Muslims to see the West for what they are rather than what they claim to be.
Ali Kazmi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Dear Ali, Switzerland isn't 'The West', it's one tiny, democratic, independent country that doesn't belong to any power bloc. They haven't banned Islam nor mosques - just minarets. Once again, Islam looks around for any way of taking offence.

Meerkat Indigo, South Wales, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:25 GMT 10:25 UK

The vast majority of posts in this HYS just go to prove that religion is devisive, agressive and full of hatred to others of different or no faith.

How can this be good for humanity?

[nacoodle]

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:24 GMT 10:24 UK

Cheers to Swiss and their Democrac

[nandtalk]

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:22 GMT 10:22 UK

Email, sms's or Twitter would seem to be a better way to call the faithful in this modern age.

JW, Hungary

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:18 GMT 10:18 UK

I am truly ashamed.

Kelvin, UK

Why? Are you Swiss?

Jack, London

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:18 GMT 10:18 UK

Churches and other places of worship exist in ALL so called Muslim countries. Stop twisting the facts.

I am truly ashamed.

Kelvin, UK

When a Pakistani player teamed up with a Jew for an international tournament the Pakistan government demanded an inquiry.

Dorloukie Fienusess, Orly

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:12 GMT 10:12 UK

All this achieves is the very sensible determination that people who come to a country should abide by its rules. Sadly, this may be interpreted as racism - it is not.

That Minarets are an Islamic symbol and would be "added" in Switzerland perhaps says more about those who would want the Minarets. People of all faiths should be dsatisfied with what they have and accept this ruling by the people of Switzerland

[DibbySpot], Watlington, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:09 GMT 10:09 UK

People should let coutries live in the culture that they themselves have. People who wish to be muslem or islamic can move to muslem or islamic places. Please let countries live in their own traditional heritage with their own traditional skyline without changing it to suit people who are not a part of the culture.

Let the British be British, the Scots be Scottish, the Irish be Irish and the Swiss be Swiss in their own countries! Dont play the racist/religion card when its simply not needed.

Rando

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:07 GMT 10:07 UK

...
And shall we start asking Muslims to wear a special badge?
...
Stop twisting the facts.
...
Kelvin, UK

You can hardly call on other people to "stop twisting the facts" when you yourself come out with hysterical reductio ad absurdum nonsense like "shall we start asking Muslims to wear a special badge".

As others have said, no-one is stopping Muslims following their religion or attending mosques - alll the Swiss are doing is preserving their own architectural culture.

Alan, Salisbury

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:05 GMT 10:05 UK

Somebody said that there are churches in all islamic places.

Please go to the Northern part of Cyprus which has been occupied by Turks and observe the vandalisation of christian churches by muslims. If you cannot go there, you can learn more by searching the internet.

Its is always good to have historic memory but you need to remember more than the last 60 years.

George Kane, Leukosia

Added: Tuesday, 1 December, 2009, 10:04 GMT 10:04 UK

They have done something to maintain their cultural and political identity, it does not have to have a further positive result than that. But politicians who think they know better may stop it becoming law. Across Europe while the so called intelligentsia keep their head in the sand people are waking up.

Journalists are showing how out of touch they are by saying things like ‘you wouldn’t have thought the Swiss would do this’, assuming that everyone in Europe thinks exactly like they do.

John Barnes