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Many Swiss non-Muslims welcomed the initiative and flocked to the nearby mosques to get first-hand experience with Muslims. (Reuters) |
GENEVA — Swiss Muslims are opening up mosques across the European country to non-Muslims to enhance dialogue and clear misconceptions ahead of a controversial vote on minarets ban.
"To me it means opening myself up to others, to tell them that we as Muslims open our doors to you. That we are here with you," a Muslim woman participating in the open day event told Euro News on Sunday, November 8.
Under the initiative championed by a number of the Swiss Muslim organizations, mosques will be open to non-Muslim visitors over the coming days.
The initiative comes ahead of a controversial vote on whether to ban the construction of minarets in the country.
People will vote on November 29 on a referendum spearheaded by the far-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP) to ban the building of new minarets.
The SVP claims minarets are a symbol of Shari'ah and are thus incompatible with the Swiss legal system.
The proposed ban has caused an outcry in Switzerland, with the government denouncing it as unconstitutional and discriminatory.
The country's Roman Catholic bishops have urged voters to reject the proposed minaret ban.
Opinion polls suggest the proposed ban will be rejected by voters.
Switzerland is home to some 400,000 Muslims and Islam is the second religion in the country after Christianity.
There 200 mosques in Switzerland, but only four have minarets.
Dialogue
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| "We hope these meetings will build a dialogue and better understanding," said Maizar. (Google) |
Organizers say the open-day event aims to enhance dialogue and coexistence in the country.
"We hope these meetings will build a dialogue and better understanding," said Hisham Maizar, president of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Switzerland.
Many Swiss welcomed the Muslim overture and flocked to nearby mosques to get first-hand experience.
The visitors were welcomed by Muslim volunteers who also answered different questions about Islam.
The guests were also allowed to see Muslims while performing their prayers.
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes, who visited a mosque in Zurich, says he and many non-Muslims enjoyed the experience.
"Our existence is reality, but we want the reality to be enriching," said the Muslim woman participating in the open day event.
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