International Reputation of Switzerland at Stake
SF DRS Reduced Islam to Terrorism and Conflict Even During the Run-up to the Referendum
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Zurich. Even during the peak time before referendum on a ban on building minarets in Switzerland, the main evening news of Swiss TV DRS and the Rundschau reported about Islam primarily in the context of terrorism and international conflict. This stereotyped news permitted the public only in a limited way to form its own opinion about the everyday life of the 400,000 Muslims in Switzerland. The tone of the reports about Islam was critical on account of this news selection. Representatives of Islam were only quoted infrequently. With regard to these facts, the outcome of the poll does not surprise.
Switzerland has nothing in the bank on Reputation while the Minaratt-Ban hits the news
The Image of Switzerland in international TV News December 2008 to November 2009
Zurich. With the clear vote against building new Minarets Switzerland runs high risk of losing more of its international reputation. Over the last twelve months prime-time news in the USA, Europe, the Middles East or in Africa reported only then in a positive way about the country, when Roger Federer or other top athletes won their tournaments. But coverage of business, politics or social issues strains the image of Switzerland with potential investors or tourists. The result of the poll will now add only room for additional charges.
Contact: r.schatz@mediatenor.com, MEDIA TENOR International, Rothstrasse 54, 8057 Zurich
C1 World Dialogue CoChairs:
The Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr.Ali Gomaa
& The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres,
Deplore Passing of Swiss Anti Minaret Initiative
The Bishop of London commented: “This vote shows what happens when practical steps are not taken to address private fears and to bring communities together. We must not allow stereotypes to drive us apart. It is important that the identity of Muslims not be allowed to be hijacked by extremists. We must remember too the need for people everywhere to be able to enjoy freedom of religion and the freedom to practice their faith and we need to address this globally so that we all enjoy equal freedom of religion everywhere.”
Released in Basle, November 29, 2009 The C1 One World Dialogue deeply deplores the passing of this initiative proposed by theSVP (Swiss People’s Party). The C-1 World Dialogue has made very clear its concern about this issue (see the Georgetown statement of 9th October 2009). We have sought to offer every possible assistance in helping to avoid the present outcome. We have engaged with as many of those who have been concerned about this as possible here in Switzerland as well as with others who wish to help, ranging from President Erdogan of Turkey through to Riz Khan and Al Jazeera and the Editor-in-Chief of Al Arabiya, Nakhle El Hage. We remain committed to offering such help in the future and express the hope that, even yet, good may come from this unhappy set back. This outcome should serve to alert us to the reality of unaddressed fears and unspoken anxieties in Europe which the normal political processes have overlooked or insufficiently addressed. We urge that the challenge of building true communities that can nonetheless integrate diversity in a harmonious manner should be a high priority everywhere and we offer our full support in the future for this work. Switzerland is a country that has for centuries embodied the capacity to bring people of diverse cultural backgrounds together – as its four official languages demonstrate. Moreover, Article 15 of the Swiss Federal Constitution explicitly states that, “The freedom of religion and philosophy is guaranteed. All persons have the right to choose their religion or philosophical convictions freely, and to profess them alone or in community with others. All persons have the right to join or to belong to a religious community, and to follow religious teachings. No person shall be forced to join or belong to a religious community, to participate in a religious act, or to follow religious teachings.” This Constitutional guarantee has not been changed and everyone needs to remember this fact. We stand at this time with the Swiss Council of Religions (which includes Muslim representatives) in regretting this present outcome, while also committing ourselves to ensuring that the right to free practice of religious beliefs continues to be maintained here in Switzerland, as it long has been, and as it should be world wide. This outcome should not be misused for other political purposes but should serve instead as a call to commit to building cooperation and harmony between our different communities and religions with renewed vigor. For further information: Contact: C-1 World Dialogue www.annualdialogue.com Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff: amacrad@hotmail.com +41-79-2557373