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07/10/2008: "Swiss "far right" forces vote on minaret ban"

Far right groups in Switzerland have collected enough signatures to force a nationwide referendum on banning minarets, the distinctive towers of Islamic architecture.

In what is being seen as a sign of growing Islamophobia in Europe, more than 100,000 Swiss citizens signed a petition to halt the construction of minarets.

Under Switzerland's direct democracy rules, that level of support is enough to trigger a referendum. The Swiss interior ministry today confirmed a vote would take place, without setting a date.

The petition was launched by Ulrich Schluer an MP from the controversial Swiss People's party, which was accused of racist campaigning last year.

[ Good luck to them. But without a recovery in the indigenous Swiss birth rate, the future continues to look Islamic. ]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/08/islam.race