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Communiqué 04052010-0018

Bern, 20th Jumada al Awwal / 05.04.2010

The Islamic Central Council Switzerland (ICCS) has noted with dismay the result of today's vote on a state initiative against the face veil in the cantonal parliament of Argovia. We want to emphasize that another special law against our religious community would in no way influence the relationship between Muslim and non-Muslim citizens positively. Rather, it must be expected that Muslims feel even more discriminated and marginalized and on the other hand, the polarization is likely to increase further.

The Central Council considers the argument that the face veil was a "symbol of oppression of women" as absurd and sees it as another offshoot of that hegemonic discourse of power, one could already see in the anti-minaret debate. Thus, in today's cantonal parliament debate according to the minaret as the "symbol of power" there was repeatedly talk of a "potent symbol of the dominance of the man over the woman." But unlike the minaret the face veil is a possible interpretation of the Islamic hijab (veil) and thus is clearly a cult act and not a symbol, such as crescent or a small cross, which you wear around your neck.

It can not be that a dress code against a specific religious community is adopted by the State The Federal Constitution guarantees in addition to the freedom of religion and the freedom of worship also the individual's right to free unfolding. An interference in the religious dress code would be a blatant restriction of this very right to freedom.