That's a brilliant idea.Projections from exit polls suggest that voters in Switzerland have backed a referendum proposal to ban the building of minarets.
The result is not yet official, but the BBC's correspondent in Berne says if it is confirmed, it would be a surprise.
The proposal was backed by the Swiss People's Party (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which claims minarets are a sign of Islamisation.
Opponents say a ban would discriminate and that the ballot has stirred hatred.
The government opposes a ban.
Switzerland is home to some 400,000 Muslims and has just four minarets. Official referendum results are due at 1700 GMT.
Under the Swiss system, a referendum result is not binding unless a majority of canton voting districts approve it, as well as a majority of voters.
'Huge surprise'
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes, in Bern, says the voting trends are very bad news for the Swiss government which had urged voters to reject a ban on minarets, fearing unrest among the Muslim community and damage to Switzerland's relations with Islamic countries.
But voters worried about rising immigration, and with it the rise of Islam, seem to have ignored the government's advice, our correspondent says.
Partial results from the poll which closed at 1100 GMT indicated that the German-speaking canton of Lucerne accepted the ban, while French-speaking cantons Geneva and Vaud voted against, news agency AFP reported.
"The initiative would appear to be accepted, there is a positive trend. It's a huge surprise," French-language television said, 30 minutes after polls closed at midday.
Islam is the most widespread religion after Christianity in Switzerland, but it remains relatively hidden.
There are unofficial Muslim prayer rooms, and planning applications for new minarets are almost always refused.
Supporters of a ban claim that allowing minarets would represent the growth of an ideology and a legal system - Sharia law - which are incompatible with Swiss democracy.
But others say the referendum campaign has incited hatred. On Thursday the Geneva mosque was vandalised for the third time during the campaign, according to local media.
Before the vote, Amnesty International warned that the ban would violate Switzerland's obligations to freedom of religious expression.
'Political symbol'
Sunday's referendum was held after the People's party collected 100,000 signatures from eligible voters within 18 months calling for a vote.
SVP member of parliament Ulrich Schluer said the referendum campaign had helped integration by encouraging debate. He rejected the charge of discrimination.
"Every Muslim is allowed to come together with other Muslims to have the religion together," he told the BBC.
"But a minaret is a political symbol. It is a symbol for introducing, step-by-step, Sharia rights also in Switzerland, parallel to the Swiss law which is a result of Swiss democracy. And this is the problem. It is nothing against Muslims."
In recent years many countries in Europe have been debating their relationship with Islam, and how best to integrate their Muslim populations.
France focused on the headscarf, while in Germany there was controversy over plans to build one of Europe's largest mosques in Cologne.
Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
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Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
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Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
next, saudi Arabia issues a law prohibiting church towers, as it is a sign of christian law invading the country. Although it would be fitting if that applied in Switzerland in tandem with the minaret ban, as both structures serve the same purpose: telling time and broadcasting messages.
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Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
Though I find minarets far more obnoxious then church steeples, they really ought to ban both.
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Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
So, bastion of freedom, democracy, and rational thinking huh? Keep it up Europe.
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Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
It should be noted that Switzerland is not part of the EU. They're pretty set in their isolation.
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Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
And as I understand it deliberately so.Sionnach Glic wrote:It should be noted that Switzerland is not part of the EU. They're pretty set in their isolation.
Though they may have a problem when it comes to maintaining their culture.
If current breeding patterns are any indication, eventaully the world will be made of Muslims and Mormons.
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Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
What do you mean?sunnyside wrote:And as I understand it deliberately so.
I'm pretty certain that the EU would be pretty happy to expand its borders, if it's them you're talking about. Switzerland simply has a history of just trying to pretend nothing outside its borders exists.
Silly Sunny, the Chinese will overwhelm us first.sunnyside wrote:Though they may have a problem when it comes to maintaining their culture.
If current breeding patterns are any indication, eventaully the world will be made of Muslims and Mormons.
"You've all been selected for this mission because you each have a special skill. Professor Hawking, John Leslie, Phil Neville, the Wu-Tang Clan, Usher, the Sugar Puffs Monster and Daniel Day-Lewis! Welcome to Operation MindFuck!"
Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
Rather I meant their tendancy to avoid whatever is going on in the world for maximum profit, whether it be shady bank accounts or selling to Nazis while staying on the good side of the allies. I'm guessing whatever the rest of Europe decides to do, the Swiss will be more than willing to figure out how to turn it to their advantage. For example by not being forced to join others in sactions, they may be able to get a range of products on the cheap. And so on.Sionnach Glic wrote: Switzerland simply has a history of just trying to pretend nothing outside its borders exists.
Actually they're still on the one child policy. Though this is of course improving their economic situation. So in 3000 AD it might be an elite of chinamen ruling the masses of Mormons and Muslims.sunnyside wrote: Silly Sunny, the Chinese will overwhelm us first.
I wonder what the Vulcans would think of that?
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Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
well after they see all the star trek shows that have been beamed out into space...their going to think they have the wrong planet....almost everyone was on the show.
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
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Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
You don't have to worry about either Islam or Mormon ruling the world:
Islam - the world leaders in technology in the 9th to 14th centuries. Now, they fight with 30 year old rockets and middling-sized rocks.
Mormons - nobody who avoids coffee as a religious injunction can overtake the world. Besides, a polygamist can't possibly have enough time for something like that.
Islam - the world leaders in technology in the 9th to 14th centuries. Now, they fight with 30 year old rockets and middling-sized rocks.
Mormons - nobody who avoids coffee as a religious injunction can overtake the world. Besides, a polygamist can't possibly have enough time for something like that.
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Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
Mikey wrote:Mormons - nobody who avoids coffee as a religious injunction can overtake the world. Besides, a polygamist can't possibly have enough time for something like that.
“You cannot play God then wash your hands of the things that you've created. Sooner or later, the day comes when you can't hide from the things that you've done anymore.”
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From Slave to Princess
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From Slave to Princess
Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
Well, I'm not being entirely serious.Mikey wrote:You don't have to worry about either Islam or Mormon ruling the world:
Islam - the world leaders in technology in the 9th to 14th centuries. Now, they fight with 30 year old rockets and middling-sized rocks.
Mormons - nobody who avoids coffee as a religious injunction can overtake the world. Besides, a polygamist can't possibly have enough time for something like that.
However my point was in breeding.
If everyone else has less than two children per two adults (which is getting to be the case for a wide number of demographics and countries), while those groups have something like four per two adults.
And than you do that for 300, well, it ceases to be a question of who is right and becomes one of who is left.
This is actually somewhat relevant now though. Western countries are democracies, however immegration and breeding has rendered a number of areas, even in Israel, on the verge of having muslim majorities. If they act in concert as a voting bloc and represent over 50% of the votes they will have taken over that area. Extend that and they take over the country.
Mormons have quite a way to go though for breeding if they want to take over the US, but they're trying their best
Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
Dont; a lot of these Christian groups also practice a lot of intermarrying and thus limiting their gene pool to believers and like minded groups?
Although inbreeding shouldn't show up the first couple of generations
Although inbreeding shouldn't show up the first couple of generations
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Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
Me neither.sunnyside wrote:Well, I'm not being entirely serious.
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I got the high gloss luster
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as Bull offed Custer
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Re: Switzerland Votes To Ban "Islamic" Architecture
They just look after everyone's money whilst they're all fighting with each other.Sionnach Glic wrote:It should be noted that Switzerland is not part of the EU. They're pretty set in their isolation.
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