Tehran threatens consequences if Switzerland enforces minaret ban
07 December 2009
Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has warned Switzerland of unspecified "consequences" if the ban on the construction of new minarets, approved last week by 57 percent of Swiss voters, is enforced. The vote went "against the prestige of a country which claims to be an advocate of democracy and human rights," Mottaki told his Swiss counterpart Micheline Calmy-Rey in a telephone conversation that was quoted by the Iranian news agency IRNA.
He said last week's referendum would "damage Switzerland’s image as a pioneer of respecting human rights among Muslims' public opinion," adding: "Values such as tolerance, dialogue and respecting others' religions should never be put to referendum.” Mottaki expressed hope that the Swiss government would soon "take necessary steps and find a constitutional way to prevent imposition of the ban."
IRNA reported that Switzerland's ambassador in Tehran was summoned on Saturday to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, where he received a protest note. Calmy-Rey reportedly told Mottaki that the Swiss government would "use all its means to support the rights of Muslims.”
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