PROHIBITION OF MINARETS IN SWITZERLAND IS A STEP TOWARD RACIST AND PHOBIA SPREAD SOCIETY IN EUROPE

ISTANBUL. 1 DECEMBER, 2009. Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation, an international institution affiliated to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) expresses its deep regret over the results of the referendum held in Switzerland on 29 November 2009 banning construction of minarets in the country.

While considering public voting as natural part of democratic process we regret that the authorities of the country haven�t exert all necessary efforts to inform public on anti-liberal and anti-human-rights nature of the proposal put forward. As a result this action bearing of extreme Islamophobic character and insulting the beliefs of the millions
of Muslims poses danger of marginalizing of about 300.000 Muslims living in Switzerland as well as threatens hopes for inter-civilizational dialogue worldwide. ICYF-DC representing the voice of leading youth organizations in the OIC countries and throughout Muslim minorities worldwide as well as many young leaders involved in inter-cultural dialogue globally, strongly condemns this act of intolerance and spreading of hatred. We have serious concerns about the negative consequences of the outcome of this vote on the freedom of religion and belief not only in Switzerland but all over Europe.

A blanket prohibition of minarets (part of traditional architecture and symbol ofpeaceful call for prayer) seriously questions Switzerland�s own commitments on freedom of religion and belief including those taken by the country as the member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe. While expressing appreciation to the position vis-àvis Swiss referendum taken by several international organizations in particular the statements by heads of the UN, CoE and PACE, ICYF-DC urges those institutions to take practical steps to overrule this decision and work with the government and civil society of Switzerland in order to prevent inter-community tension already instigated by this racist initiative. In particular ICYF-DC calls upon the international institutions to consider implementation of the following concrete actions:
1. For UN HRC: To initiate a resolution to ensure that rights of individuals, protected by international treaties, should not be subject to popular votes;
2. For Council of Europe: To support freedom-oriented and mainstream organizations and individuals in Switzerland taking actions to challenge the results of the referendum in the courts including the European Court of Human Rights. ICYF-DC on its part is ready to work together with willing partners to provide legal and technical assistance to such an action;
3. For OIC � as institution designed to protect well-being of Muslim communities worldwide to mobilize its Member States and institutions to exert all necessary legal and political efforts in order to ensure freedom of belief for Swiss Muslim community and limit the global impact of Swiss referendum;
4. For UN Alliance of Civilizations: We strongly believe that it is time and strong reason for UN AoC to step in and be more visible in challenging this action threatening sensitive relations between civilizations as well as to adjust its programs including but not limited to youth field to address the danger of marginalization of Muslim communities in Europe.

ICYF-DC also calls upon European Youth Forum to promptly react to development dangerous to the well-being of thousands of young people from minority background in its own domain and express its full readiness to work together with YFJ and other regional youth platforms to address the issue both within modality of bilateral partnership and other appropriate modalities to mitigate negative consequences of this xenophobic act.

ICYF-DC will be closely following the issue and will exert necessary diplomatic actions to achieve the above stated objectives.

Board of ICYF-DC