Zurich opposes distribution of Quran campaign in public spaces

The Zurich's public safety office on Friday recommended a ban on Quran distribution campaign in public space in Switzerland.

Zurich, May, 6: The Zurich’s public safety office on Friday recommended a ban on Quran distribution campaign in public space in Switzerland. The public safety office described it as a way for provocation of radical activities including jihadist involvement in the country. Islamic “READ” campaign are denied public platform after Zurich’s security urged communities said that it had ties with jihadis in Switzerland and many of its members being prosecuted by the attorney general. The ban is similar to Germany’s ban on a group called “True Religion.”

Citing a legal opinion, Zurich’s Security Department wrote, “The community is not obliged to allow public space as a platform for spreading views that are irreconcilable with our society’s basic and fundamental values,” further adding that “such actions may thus be prohibited within the current legal framework.”

Speaking on the issue, the Association of Islamic Organisations in Zurich said that the ban recommendation is applied to a specific campaign and banning to Quran campaign did not expect any adverse outcome for the Muslim community. “We generally prefer individuals to be informed about Islam in mosques or for members to engage in local dialogue,” the association said in an emailed statement.

“True Religion” group was formed by Germany’s DWR in 2011 by setting a goal to distribute 25 million Qurans across Europe, but it was banned in Germany because of the extreme ideologies being passed around and for supporting the terrorist organisations under the pretext of Islam. The organisation had persuaded about 140 people in Germany to join militants in Iraq and Syria, the authorities reported.

Zurich’s security department urged the Swiss federal government to ban the “True Religion” group under new national intelligence laws that take effect on September 1.