Ertugrul Gunay: referendum in Switzerland anachronistic

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey yesterday expressed dismay at the ban on the building of minarets in Switzerland.



"This is an outdated approach in the middle of Europe," Ertugrul Gunay, Turkey's Culture and Tourism Minister, told reporters. "Such an anachronistic referendum should not have been allowed to take place in these times." 



In the referendum in Switzerland on Sunday, a 57.5 percent majority voted in favor of the ban on construction new minarets in the country. 



"Switzerland is a country that lies within Europe but has not internalized Europe with its democratic values, the Minister added. He said he is against holding "a referendum on matters of religious freedom".



"Every religious structure has its symbols," Mr Gunay said. "A minaret or a church tower is an inseparable part of such a structure."



He said he expects reaction from Muslim nations, which could apply economic sanctions against Switzerland.