Minaret a sign of human rights, freedom, culture and architect
2009 Nov 30, IRIB
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt on Monday criticised Switzerland's vote to ban mosque minarets as a sign of prejudice and questioned the decision to put the issue to a referendum.
"It's an expression of quite a bit of prejudice and maybe even fear, but it is clear that it is a negative signal in every way, there's no doubt about it," AFP quoted Bildt, whose country holds the current European Union presidency, as telling Swedish Radio.
Swiss voters on Sunday approved by a majority of 57.5 percent a ban on minarets in a referendum.
Bildt said he found it odd that such a decision was put to a referendum.
"Normally Sweden and other countries have city planners that decide this kind of issue. To decide this kind of issue in a referendum seems very strange to me," he said.
Meanwhile, Swiss media expressed concern Monday over the damage to the country's image after a referendum backed a ban on the construction of mosque minarets.
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