Some Jewish organizations have come to the defense of Muslim worshipers against Switzerland's banning the construction of new minarets on mosques, arguing that the move was unjustifiable and a case of religious discrimination.
The Alpine country Sunday voted by a 57% majority a referendum banning the construction of minarets on mosques, which right-wing parties regard as symbols of militant Islam.
David Harris of the American Jewish Committee said the referendum result was an attack on the fundamental values of mutual respect.
While concerns in Europe over Islamist extremism were understandable, he added, these could not be legitimately addressed through a "blanket assault" on Muslim communities and their religious symbols.
Rabbi Pinchas Dunner, executive director of the Conference of European Rabbis, an Orthodox organization, said a war on religious freedom would not defeat Islamic extremists. He said the best weapon against radical Islam was to support moderate Muslims and promote inter-faith dialogue.
And, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)--an international non-governmental organization based in the U.S.--linked the move to religious discrimination against Jews.
In a press release, the ADL said this was not the first time a Swiss popular vote was used to promote religious intolerance. A century ago, a referendum banned Jewish ritual slaughter, to drive out its Jews, it said.
Noting the overriding opposition from the government and most Swiss political parties to the ban, the ADL urged Swiss leaders to "be vigilant" in their defense of religious freedom, though the Swiss People's Party (SVP) which forced the referendum, was the largest party in Swiss Parliament, holding two of the seven government ministries.
The ADl describes itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", that "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects civil rights for all." It also defends the security of Israel and Jews worldwide.
Prominent Muslim Turkish-German director Fatih Akin said Thursday he would not take his new film to Switzerland in protest against the minaret move.
This referendum conflicted with his understanding of humanism, tolerance and the belief that harmonious co-existence of people of differing backgrounds, races and religions must be possible, said Akin. He is the winner of a screen-writing award for his drama "The Edge of Heaven" in 2007 at the Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Bear top prize in Berlin in 2004 for "Head-On."
He will not present December 16 in Zurich--the largest Swiss city and often called the cultural capital of the country--his new comedy "Soul Kitchen," which won the Special Jury Prize in September at the Venice Film Festival.
The UN General Assembly President Ali Treki Wednesday added his voice to a chorus of UN concern over the outcome of the Swiss referendum, his spokesman said.
Many European countries as well as Muslim nations and Muslim religious leaders have criticized the Swiss referendum.
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June 19, 2026 16:46 ET Major central banks continued to dominate the economic news flow this week too, led by the Federal Reserve, as they announced their latest policy decisions. The Federal Reserve policy session was in focus as it was the first to be led by the new chief Kevin Warsh. In Europe, central banks of the U.K. and Switzerland announced their rate decisions. In Asia, the Bank of Japan drew attention for its policy moves, while data out of China threw some light on the state of the economy.