Entry denied

Swiss media reported that Pierre Vogel, a German national, was turned away at the border with Germany near the city of Basel late on Friday. Vogel had been due to attend an Islamic rally in the Swiss capital Berne on Saturday against a ban on the construction of new minarets.

Switzerland voted to ban the building of new minarets in a referendum two weeks ago. The surprise result provoked condemnation across the world.

Reports said Vogel objected to not being allowed into Switzerland, but that he cooperated with border guards and signed the order banning his entry into the country. He then returned to Germany.

A report on the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation's Web site said that Vogel was not allowed in as the Federal Migration Office said his presence could pose a threat to public law and order.

Vogel, a former professional boxer who converted to Islam in 2001, told Swiss newspapers that he wanted to encourage Muslims in Switzerland to come out of their social isolation and help lessen mistrust, the site said.

Over 57 percent of voters and all but four of the country's 26 cantons approved the proposal to ban new minarets. The right-wing Swiss People's Party was the driving force behind the November 29 referendum.

The government said it would respect the people's decision and would no longer permit construction of minarets. However, it tried to assure the country's 400,000-strong Muslim community that the ban did not amount to “a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture.”

rb/Reuters/AP

Editor: Sonia Phalnikar