ERTUGRUL GUNAY: REFERENDUM IN SWITZERLAND ANACHRONISTIC

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.12.2009 13:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey yesterday expressed dismay at the ban on
the building of minarets in Switzerland.

"This is an outdated approach in the middle of Europe," Ertugrul
Gunay, Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister, told reporters. "Such
an anachronistic referendum should not have been allowed to take
place in these times."

In the referendum in Switzerland on Sunday, a 57.5 percent majority
voted in favor of the ban on construction new minarets in the country.

"Switzerland is a country that lies within Europe but has not
internalized Europe with its democratic values, the Minister added. He
said he is against holding "a referendum on matters of religious
freedom".

"Every religious structure has its symbols," Mr Gunay said. "A minaret
or a church tower is an inseparable part of such a structure."

He said he expects reaction from Muslim nations, which could apply
economic sanctions against Switzerland