Ahmadiyya Times | Article | Intn'l Events
Reprint: Portland Islam Examiner |
Harris Zafar | Portland, OR | November 29, 2009
Sunday introduced another chapter in a growing trend of fear and intolerance in Europe. Switzerland – a country previously renown for tolerance and public order – has passed a new constitutional ban on the construction of minarets, a traditional architectural feature of Muslim Mosques around the world.
Minarets – very similar to spires found in Christian churches around the world – have never been used for political force or coercion. In societies where Muslims are in the minority, it is not even used to announce the Islamic call to prayer. A benign feature of Islamic architecture, the minaret will no longer be allowed in new mosque constructions, even though the spires found in churches will continue to be allowed.
The rising level of intolerance in Europe is a source of concern not just for Muslims but for mankind as a whole. Europe is rapidly degenerating in to a land of fear, segregation and small-mindedness.
The referendum by the nationalist Swiss People's Party labeled minarets as “a sign of political power and demand, comparable with whole-body covering by the burqa, tolerance of forced marriage and genital mutilation of girls.” How a building structure can be connected with forced marriage and genital mutilation is beyond the understanding of reasonable logic and shows that Switzerland has allowed the fear preached by Neo-Nazis in their country to get the better of them.
This is not, however, an overnight decision made by the country. This has been festering for some time. Back in 2007, Reuters reported that a group of right-wing Swiss politicians had launched a campaign to ban the construction of minarets in Muslim Mosques because they were “a symbol of power and threaten law and order.”
Europe continues to foster a combative relationship with its Muslim inhabitants. Instead of sitting with its Muslim citizens to create a relationship of togetherness like the US has done, European countries continue to search for ways to single-out Muslims and create more fear of them in the hearts of non-Muslim citizens. In the long run, this strategy only serves to put a stain on their so-called democracy and sends their society backward into the depths of gloom and antagonism. I pray that Switzerland opens its eyes to the intolerance it is breeding.
At the same time, as a Muslim I say to all my Muslim brothers and sisters that any protest they wage in response to this new Swiss law should follow the peaceful example given to us by our Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He never promoted riots or violent protests. Muslims must wage their battles through peaceful and legal means. No benefit will come from burning down flags or buildings. Muslims must be the paragon for tolerance and should not come down to this savage level.
There are indeed Muslims like myself who not only speak out against intolerant governments who promote bitterness and enmity but who also speak out against acts of violence and intolerance perpetrated by so-called Muslims who wreak havoc and disturb the peace of the land.
May God guide the misguided and protect our societies from the dangers that are being cultivated by both sides.
Harris Zafar is a contributing member of Majlis Sultan-ul Qalam, USA (MSQ USA).
Read here: Switzerland promotes fear and bigotry
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.