MINARET BAN A SETBACK FOR GLOBAL RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, SAYS MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is dismayed at a Swiss referendum
banning the construction of minarets, describing it as a setback to the
promotion of global religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence.


"Malaysia hopes that the Swiss government will take every effort to reverse
the act of intolerance that would serve to generate negative consequences on
society, especially the Muslim community, as a result of this referendum,"
Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said in a statement here Friday.

He said the ban was a serious blow to religious freedom and would infringe
on the rights of a minority to practise its religion in Switzerland.

"In stark contrast to the belief of Swiss voters that this initiative will
stop radicalism and Islamisation, it is Malaysia's belief that this decision
will segregate Swiss Muslims from mainstream society, and will be a setback to
global efforts to promote religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence," he
added.

Anifah said Malaysia was deeply concerned that this had happened in an era
of globalisation and in a country that had long supported fundamental human
rights and continuously advocated peace and understanding between the Muslim and
the non-Muslim world.

Malaysia hoped that the Swiss government would continue to take proactive
measures to promote understanding, tolerance and respect for the beliefs of
peoples of differing faiths, he said.
-- BERNAMA