In which Switzerland approves a law against the construction of minarets

This is gravely disappointing. A proposal to introduce a clause in the Swiss constitution that would ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland has been passed by 57% of the vote, and by 22 out of Switzerland's 26 cantons. I was sure it would not pass, because it is not only naked, blatant discrimination but completely unnecessary. The idea that the voices of muezzins calling the faithful to prayer will ring across the Alps from a thousand pointing minarets is just ridiculous. It is encouraging that the Swiss government itself was opposed to this, and it is good to see other countries speaking out. As Justice Minister Widmer-Schlumpf says: "A ban on the construction of new minarets is not a feasible means of countering extremist tendencies:"

It is dismaying that Switzerland is becoming more and more closed to outsiders, witness the infamous poster of the black sheep being kicked off the Swiss flag last year, and the resulting restrictions on who can get nationality, and this poster, which was used by the SVP party to campaign for the anti-minaret intiative. I urge you to read Tariq Ramadan, the Swiss and Muslim scholar who has a thoughtful essay on this subject in today's Guardian.