Austria’s Islamic community has bemoaned the Swiss minaret referendum result this weekend.
In the referendum on Sunday 57 per cent of citizens backed a halt to more minarets being built in the country.
Omar Al-Rawi, the Austrian Islamic Community’s integration consultant, said yesterday (Mon): "With this decision the Swiss failed to make a statement against social exclusion, discrimination and populism.
"Human rights are not separable, and religious freedom rights are a main part of these rights."
Catholic Church leaders and leaders of the People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Greens also criticised the result.
There are three minarets in Austria: in Vienna, Bad Vöslau in Lower Austria and Telfs, Vorarlberg. The provinces of Carinthia and Vorarlberg have recently introduced laws which ensure no more minarets can be erected.
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