The Swiss minaret ban rested on framing Islam as foreign to Western values

Evidence

Schlüer responded that the comparison was invalid because the steeple and the minaret represent two religions that hold two very different sets of values: “I think Christianity is an attitude of freedom, of recognizing different meanings, of tolerance. Islam has nothing to do with tolerance.” Put another way, Christianity embraces and epitomizes Western secular values such as toleration and freedom, the very values Islam rejects. Since Islam is so different, so “other,” its symbols cannot be allowed to occupy public space and promote values that are “foreign” to the Swiss people. — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 57

Categorization

• DEFINE: Concrete instance of the ‘Islam as separate and other’ closed view — the reader can cite the Schlüer quote.
• XREF: connects to: The Swiss campaign framed minarets as military conquest symbols threatening women’s freedom — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 637; The Swiss minaret ban passed despite opposition from government and Christian organizations — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 639; Switzerland banned mosque minarets despite only four existing nationwide. — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 554 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Switzerland banned mosque minarets despite only four existing nationwide. #corroborates (0.85) — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 554
• Local European bans often sought to suppress Muslim visibility in public space #expands (0.80) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 621
• The US needed Islam as a foil to define itself as Western #corroborates (0.70) — Khaled A. Beydoun, American Islamophobia_ Understanding…, 154