• 03:29
  • Sunday ,06 December 2009
العربية

could be next country to ban building of minarets

By-unitedcopts

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00:12

Sunday ,06 December 2009

could be next country to ban building of minarets

Italy could become the next European country to hold a referendum on the building of Islamic minarets.
It follows a Swiss decision to ban the towers, which are used to put out the Muslim call to prayer, earlier this week.

Roberto Calderoli, of Italy's Right-wing Northern League party, said the country should hold a vote as soon as possible to reaffirm its Roman Catholic roots.
 
Like the Swiss, Italian voters can have a direct say on an issue if a minimum number of signatures are gathered, calling for a referendum.
 
MICHAEL BURLEIGH: What lesson does the Swiss ban on minarets hold for Britain?
 
 
Mr Calderoli said the Swiss decision should warn countries about losing touch with their Christian identities.
 
'Respect for other religions is important, but we've got to put the brakes on Muslim propaganda or else we'll end up with an Islamic political party like in Spain,' he said.
 
The League - which has previously been accused of Islamophobia - is expected to start the campaign for a vote.
 
Italy has 1.2million Muslims, making it the country's second religion to Catholicism.
 
In Britain, there are around 300 minarets, according to a moderate Muslim think-tank.
 
The Quilliam Foundation said it estimated a fifth of the UK's 1,500 mosques were likely to have the towers, although no official figures exist.