GENEVA, March 21, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Thousands of Swiss have flocked to an exhibition on Islam in the canton of Fribourg, southwest of Bern, to learn more about the faith amidst a media blitz tarnishing its image.

The fair, which opened on February 16 and closes later on Monday, March 21, provides answers to questions from curious Swiss on the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the basic tenets of the monotheistic religion.

“The questions vary in terms of age; the old are very much interested in the Hereafter, punishment and reward in Islam, and the young in the life of the Prophet and the milestones in Islamic history,” Mohammad Ali Batout, head of the Islamic Tabere cultural organization, the organizer, told IslamOnline.net.

The five pillars of Islam have been emblazoned across the decorated columns of the exhibition along with a gallery of photographs portraying the everyday life of Muslims in Switzerland.

“The photographs give insights into the lives of the second generation of Swiss Muslims of different origins whether from Somalia, Turkey, the Balkans or North Africa,” Batout said.

The exhibition, which costs $35,000 donated by a Swiss Muslim businessman and churches, also touched on burning scientific issues like artificial fertilization and cloning.

“The Islam and Science section has attracted people’s attention,” Batout said.

“Swiss were surprised to know that verses from the Noble Qur’an that were descended on the Prophet 14 centuries ago tackle global and scientific phenomena that have been just discovered by scientists.”

The Muslim activist said that most of the audience erroneously thought that Islam was all about “do this and don’t do that.”

The organizers also prepared an open day for the audience to visit mosques in Fribourg.

The issue of women in Islam has also taken center stage in view of the oppression clichés promulgated by Western media.

Tabere female activists refuted the media reports, stressing that Islam has placed men and women on equal footing.

They also told the attentive audience why hijab was not a mere symbol but rather a religious obligation.

The counts were reinforced by documentaries of hijab-clad Swiss Muslims and how they managed to adapt to Swiss values without giving up their religious obligations.

Dutch Muslim female lawyer Famille Arslan told IOL on Monday, March 14, that It was a sort of cliché to say that women are oppressed under Islam, but it is a fact to say that immigrant women in the Netherlands- particularly Muslims – were being discriminated against in the labor market and universities.

The fair received a positive feedback from the visitors, who agreed that such events helped remove fears from the other and build bridges of confidence.

“The Swiss were also keen on uncovering the cultural, historic and artistic sides of Islam,” Batout said.

The exhibition showcased picturesque handmade trinkets as well as leather, copper and wooden products for which Muslim countries are famous.

Samples of the unique Islamic architecture and artifacts were also displayed through computer monitors at the corners of the exhibition.

A fashion show of Turkish, Algerian, Moroccan and Albanian traditional costumes was also held on the sidelines of the exhibition.

Tabere, which was founded by Muslim and Christian activists basically to enhance dialogue, has contacted Muslim organizations to host the next exhibition.

Swiss Muslims launched on June 24 a ten-day campaign to reach out to non-Muslims in Geneva.

Islam is the second religion in Switzerland after Christianity. The country is home to a sizable Muslim minority of 350,000 people of whom 43 percent are of Turkish origin.