Safeguarding religious peace
Bern, 15.10.2009 - The popular initiative "Against the construction of minarets" is contradictory to key human rights and endangers religious peace. It is unsuitable as a means of taking action against religious extremism, and risks encouraging religious fanatics. This was the message delivered by Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer- Schlumpf on Thursday at a media conference in Bern. The Neuchatel Cantonal Councillor Jean Studer and Pastor Thomas Wipf, Chairman of the Swiss Council of Religions, also called on voters to safeguard religious peace and to reject the popular initiative.