Article By: Derek Anderson

I’m not quite sure what has gone wrong with France and Switzerland, but they should immediately fix the discrimination they’re making law. Recently, Switzerland has banned the building of new minarets (distinctive architectural spires that accompany Islamic mosques) and France is working on a country-wide ban of full body burkas. The idea of even considering these actions blows my mind. It seems like hundreds of steps backwards from where we are now. The acceptance and understanding of culture and religion will be halted by these radical laws made by these countries.

Switzerland’s ban on minarets has surprisingly been voted into action by the right-wing SVP (Swiss People’s Party). The government has said that they wish the people would vote against the ban because it will cause “incomprehension overseas and harm Switzerland’s image”(from a sky.com/skynews article). The ban has been made because the people of Switzerland have interpreted the minarets as “political-religious claims to power.” Apparently, it really matters that Muslim people are coming to Switzerland to pray at these towers. Clearly, this is a plan by the Muslims to gain global domination. Give me a break.This censorship not only makes the country look horrible, but will damage the tourist pull and business in the country as well. Nothing good could come from such a ridiculous law.

France is a whole different story. They want to outlaw burkas from being worn, as President Nicolas Sarkozy told lawmakers that they were not welcome in France.

“The problem of the burka is not a religious problem. This is an issue of a woman’s freedom and dignity. This is not a religious symbol. It is a sign of subservience; it is a sign of lowering. I want to say solemnly, the burka is not welcome in France,” Sarkozy told lawmakers, according to CNN.com/Europe.

This makes no sense whatsoever. To ban burkas is also banning the practice of the Muslim religion. It is not a question of woman’s rights. It seems painfully obvious that if Muslim women that wear burkas were, in fact, offended and degraded, they would remove them if they lived in France. It’s the general principle of tradition. If Muslim women want to wear burkas, why not? Let them. It’s not degrading if they want to wear them. There’s no reason to make a law banning them. It’s a huge infringement on religion and shows intolerance to Muslims in general.

France and Switzerland need to reconsider. And it needs to happen quickly. It shows these countries in a horrible light and seems to be a global step backwards. Not all Muslims are terrorists and thirst for global power. Terrorists take from every culture, including France and Switzerland. It’s a close minded decision that I can see causing problems in the very near future.