Iran urges Bern not to enforce minaret ban
AFP
05-Dec-2009 (2 comments)

TEHRAN — Iran warned Switzerland on Saturday of "consequences" over a referendum banning the building of new mosque minarets and urged Bern not to enforce the ban, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The vote went "against the prestige of a country which claims to be an advocate of democracy and human rights," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Swiss counterpart Micheline Calmy-Rey in a telephone call, quoted by IRNA.

Mottaki said last week's referendum would "damage Switzerland?s image as a pioneer of respecting human rights among Muslims' public opinion."

"Values such as tolerance, dialogue and respecting others' religions should never be put to referendum," he argued, warning Switzerland of the "consequences" of anti-Islamic acts, IRNA reported.

The foreign minister hoped the Bern government would soon "take necessary steps and find a constitutional way to prevent imposition of the ban."

IRNA said Switzerland's
ambassador in Tehran was summoned on Saturday before the foreign
ministry, which protested against the minaret ban which was backed by
more than 57 percent of voters who cast their ballot on November 29.

Calmy-Rey
said the referendum was carried out against the will of the Swiss
government, which would "use all its means to support Muslims rights,"
the IRNA report added.

The referendu... >>>

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Abarmard

Bern MUST answer

by Abarmard on Sun Dec 06, 2009 06:39 AM PST

and urge the Islamic Republic to allow its people to dress however they like. Now that would be a good deal and win win for all.


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benross

I don't remember Parviz

by benross on Sat Dec 05, 2009 07:30 PM PST

I don't remember Parviz Sayyaad's film name, in which a 'revolutionary' mosque with two domes and one menaré in between was introduced to the world.

I guess this is what the fight is all about!


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