Religion and Politics
Minaret ban
Contrary to all official forecasts, a federal citizen’s initiative against the building of minarets on 29 November 2009 was approved by 57.5% “yes” votes to 43.4% “no” votes. The building of minarets is thus forbidden under the Swiss constitution. The result – a surprise for many – demonstrates that in practice the freedom of religion and of assembly guaranteed in the federal constitution should not, in the opinion of most Swiss people who are entitled to vote, apply automatically to all religious communities in equal measure.
Questions regarding the “neutrality” of the state and its institutions in religious matters are also the subject of discussions in Switzerland. For example, there are discussions on banning crucifixes in schools, crosses on mountain tops or the ringing of church bells.
Political disputes relating to the question of freedom of religion are not new in Switzerland. In 1980, a citizen’s initiative aimed at the complete separation of church and state was rejected by a large majority. Similar referenda have already been rejected twice (1977 and 1995) in the canton of Zurich.