UN rejects Swiss minaret building ban

UN: United Nations called on Tuesday the decision to ban the construction of new minarets in mosques in Switzerland as discriminatory and divisional.

It is a measure that places that European country contrary to its obligations to the international law, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

The UN staff member held that to veto the construction of buildings with religious purposes is clearly a discriminatory act.

The minaret construction ban was passed in a referendum held in Switzerland on Sunday.

UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Asma Jahangir said that measure will have negative consequences and it is contrary to the countries' obligations to the international law.

The result of the Swiss referendum is a warning sign that there no immune societies to religious intolerance, noted Jahangir. United Nations, Prensa Latina