I am a little confused at present. Switzerland is by no means the only country where there is something culturally wrong. I do think that there is some truth to the claim that since the end of the Cold War Europe's new scapegoat became Islam. However there is no doubt that some Muslims youths are becoming radicalized and this is a worrying trend. I used to think that it was poverty and lack of education that caused youths to turn into extremists. Now it seems that is not true, many converts are educated and not poor. The problem seems to that they feel rejected by the host community or do not have integration skills. Essentially they feel that they do not belong. Also opportunity plays a hand, they may come into contact with a radically minded role model. To me the only solution to both these problems is to have more moderate individuals from minority groups in visible positions of power. Switzerland should pick out role models- (those who have successfully integrated) and give them the authority and resources to build youth programs and act as arbitrators. More and more we hear though that Muslims are themselves monitoring their own, they know themselves how damaging extremism can be to their own culture and are pushing back. They need support, not alienation from the host community.

Yes, clearly. Still the fact that the article was also published by Le Matin (not great but not SVP for sure) gives more credibility.
I also do not think that the Weltwoche would publish nonsense right now.

Right on. I read a great article on the Muslim community in Basel and why there is "ghettoization" happening.
People come to Basel to find a job. They can't so they end up starting a business catering to their own community which eventually creates an isolated island.

I, Cannut,nominate hoppi as a role model for the radical minded .Qaddafi,Bin laden take notice

You imply that the Swiss are lambs that follow the SVP. I think it is a bit simplistic to explain the referendum that way. Let's not forget the rest of Europe where a vote if allowed would be even more dramatic. There is a problem and it needs to be addressed.

No I didn't. Or wasn't intending to. I talked about the SVP's goals. Maybe you are correct, I shouldn't have jumped the gun on suggesting there exists a divide. Was in a rush to type; wasn't precise.

That wasn't the integration role model I had in mind!

Must be the blond hair or the blue eyes ,which don`t fit the picture.You are blond ??

Strawberry blonde. See!-you had stereotyped me. They used to call me Barbie except now I'm a bit heavier from baking too many gritti baenz! Not the image of a terrorist huh? That's the problem with integration- too many stereotypes. Some may say that I am culturally wrong.

I think that the Iranian community has been a model of harmonious integration wherever they went while keeping their language and customs (even in Tokyo there is a fairly large community). Maybe the overdose of religion back at home did it.

I think that "moral equivalency" is dangerous. One does not excuse the other. You have to deal with both groups.

I feel the best solution for dealing with both groups has already been invented: the law. As long as the law views each person equally to any other we should have no problems.

On a separate note, Kuebbel on the SF show "Switzerland and Islam" this evening came across as an eleven year old smartass. But that's just an opinion.

Absolutely. It seems that the authorities were quite shy until now to create trouble. We will see what happens in the future.
Not Islam related but last time I was in Lausanne I was told by locals to avoid certain neighborhoods. WTF! It is time local authorities wake up and face their responsibilities regardless of upsetting one community or another.

Could you post a link to that debate if it exists?

This whole big issue has been created over a building regulation - NOT religion! But religion has become the excuse, huh? Just an excuse.

Are there any other building restrictions in Switzerland? Must be, surely?

This is an Alpine country - not a desert. Minarets are not part of the architectural outline here. Just the same as palm trees are synonymous with desert oasis, and pine trees here.

The Muslim religion is not banned is it? They are free to carry out their worship? There are Mosques in Switzerland?

Dick Marty is not just any Swiss politician or even a typical party member - he's a lawyer and European MP known for doggedly pursuing, as a special investigator, things that often put him on the wrong side of the establishment (CIA flyovers and secret prisons, human rights abuses and secret UN blacklists). A little background from a GenevaLunch article in Nov 2007 - note he won the foreign press association's annual prize in Switzerland, given to the person the press assoc. respects most that year.

Not just nice. Exactly to the point ! Amazing is that for the first time ever Switzerland may be forced by the Council of Europe to have a re-run of a public vote. THIS would be nice

Do you mean to say that he is not even a popularly elected official? Does he not have a constituency in Switzerland? If not, it would explain his willingness to make statements that are not backed by the federation.

Bad combination Grrrrrrrrrrrr

There are a couple of positive indications that the "radical song" is starting to change. First there was Tariq Ramadan's statement about the need for a change of attitude. Then this strange story of the Pierre Vogel's attempt to enter the country.

Islamic preacher turned away at Swiss border

Vogel has called for the islamization of Europe, and even of the pope himself. He attempted to enter Switzerland to attend a rally in Bern to protest the ban. Under Article 67 of Swiss legislation on foreigners, he was banned from entering Switzerland as he was deemed a danger to public safety.

Neverthless, he set out for Switzerland calling the travel restriction "Ein voelliger Schwachsinn". I suppose the literal translation in English is "a total mental deficiency". Here we see his attitudes toward the laws of a sovereign country, and it doesn't sound anywhere near to respect of the law. He was turned away at the border.

The interesting part is that he claims he wanted to come to the rally to encourage Muslims in Switzerland to "come out of their social isolation and help reduce mistrust". Now that is the New Song I was hoping for.

Ironically, it must have escaped his realization that one of the most important gestures towards this positive goal is to respect law and order, travel restrictions included.

If this ban on minarets serves to gently motivate the Muslim community to be more engaged in the society of their host country, and to seek to contribute positive values to society, then I would say that in the whole scheme of things, this ban referendum could be turned into one of the best things that could have happened for Muslims in Switzerland.