Debate surrounding a proposal to ban construction of minarets in Switzerland is something Swiss Raelians are following very closely. They deplore the fact that the heart of this controversy has been sidetracked by focusing on physical towers and minarets when the real debate is the philosophy behind these symbols.
“Those supporting the proposed minaret ban are the very same people who refuse to serve Raelians in bars, or to rent them conference rooms,” said Chris Antille, spokesperson for the Swiss Raelian Movement. “They are also the same people who deny Raelians the right to organize philosophical debates, and they have even refused our spiritual leader, Rael, the right to reside in Switzerland!”
Antille said such denial of fundamental rights constitutes a violation of basic freedoms guaranteed by accepted international accords.
“Although the Raelian teachings are in perfect harmony with the Declaration of Human Rights, the Swiss authorities refused Rael’s right to stay on Swiss territory,” he said. “To justify that refusal, they used the pretext that Rael’s teachings ‘could cause a public disturbance.’ ”
Nothing could be further from the truth, Antille said, adding that those who actually do present just such a risk are not singled out.
“If there is one philosophy that totally contradicts the Declaration of Human Rights, that philosophy is Islam,” Antille declared. “Rather than attack the Raelian philosophy, which advocates non-violence, the Swiss government should demand that Muslims living on Swiss territory remove those parts of the Koran that promote racism, discrimination and violence.”
[He went on to cite several examples taken directly from the Koran. See below.]