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What will be the result of the Swiss minaret building ban vote?
Background: The Interior Ministry received the proposal submitted by members of the nationalist Swiss People's Party and the fringe Federal Democratic Union, who say they are acting to fight the political spread of Islam. They argue that the minaret is a symbol of political and religious claim to power rather than a mere religious sign.
Opponents of a construction ban say it would violate religious freedom. More than 310,000 of Switzerland's 7.5 million people are Muslims, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
It's not the first time the People's Party has ignited a provocative campaign. Recently they embarked on an anti-immigrant initiative, complete with posters showing a black sheep being kicked off a Swiss flag and dark hands grabbing at a pile of Swiss passports.
Swiss voters last month, however, overwhelmingly rejected their proposal to make it harder for foreigners to gain citizenship.
Switzerland's unique system of grass roots democracy allows political hard-liners to take the issue further than in other European countries, where constitutional courts or governments have blocked moves against mosques and minarets. Any Swiss citizen who collects 100,000 signatures within 18 months can put a popular initiative to a nationwide vote.
Just over half of Swiss voters—51.3 percent—would weigh in against the anti-minaret initiative if the vote were held now.
The vote on whether the construction of minarets should be banned across the country will be held on November 29.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/2273439/Swiss-to-vote-on-minaret-building-ban.html
http://worldradio.ch/wrs/news/wrsnews/anti-minaret-initiative-vote-could-be-close.shtml?16221
Opponents of a construction ban say it would violate religious freedom. More than 310,000 of Switzerland's 7.5 million people are Muslims, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
It's not the first time the People's Party has ignited a provocative campaign. Recently they embarked on an anti-immigrant initiative, complete with posters showing a black sheep being kicked off a Swiss flag and dark hands grabbing at a pile of Swiss passports.
Swiss voters last month, however, overwhelmingly rejected their proposal to make it harder for foreigners to gain citizenship.
Switzerland's unique system of grass roots democracy allows political hard-liners to take the issue further than in other European countries, where constitutional courts or governments have blocked moves against mosques and minarets. Any Swiss citizen who collects 100,000 signatures within 18 months can put a popular initiative to a nationwide vote.
Just over half of Swiss voters—51.3 percent—would weigh in against the anti-minaret initiative if the vote were held now.
The vote on whether the construction of minarets should be banned across the country will be held on November 29.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/2273439/Swiss-to-vote-on-minaret-building-ban.html
http://worldradio.ch/wrs/news/wrsnews/anti-minaret-initiative-vote-could-be-close.shtml?16221
Settlement details:As reported by a major mainstream news source.
Forecast history %
| less than 45% of the votes in favor |
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| 45% to less than 50% of the votes in favor |
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| 50% to less than 55% of the votes in favor |
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| 55% or more of the votes in favor |
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Question suspends in 1 week
- Activity: H$83,064 |
- Predictions: 98 |
Comments: 4
Suspend date: Sat 28th Nov 7:59pm PST (1 week to go)
Initial likelihoods: less than 45% of the votes in favor: 3%, 45% to less than 50% of the votes in favor: 66%, 50% to less than 55% of the votes in favor: 28%, 55% or more of the votes in favor: 3%
Action history:
Suspended Thu 29th Oct 11:59pm PST : Suspend date reached
Unsuspended Fri 30th Oct 9:11am PST by 
sqlman![[Admin]](http://www.hubdub.com/images/icon_admin.gif "This user is an admin")
: The vote won't be held until November 29, so we're reopening until then.
http://www.parlament.ch/d/wahlen-abstimmungen/volksabstimmungen/volksabstimmungen-2009/abstimmung-2009-11-29/Seiten/default.aspx
sqlman: The vote won't be held until November 29, so we're reopening until then.
http://www.parlament.ch/d/wahlen-abstimmungen/volksabstimmungen/volksabstimmungen-2009/abstimmung-2009-11-29/Seiten/default.aspx
Suspend date: Sat 28th Nov 7:59pm PST (1 week to go) details 
Get widget!Predictions (98)
bernardo
predicted 45% to less than 50% of the votes in favor (H$1,000 at 31%)
joffi
predicted less than 45% of the votes in favor (H$50 at 71%)Comments (4)
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United Nations human rights experts have raised concerns over the forthcoming anti-minaret vote and controversial poster campaign in Switzerland.
The remarks were made during a grilling of Swiss officials by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Committee on Tuesday over Switzerland's progress in implementing a UN treaty.
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/front/Anti_minaret_vote_alarms_UN_rights_experts.html?siteSect=105&sid=11347842&ty=st
Today I looked for the results and found the date Nov 29th 2009.
http://www.parlament.ch/d/wahlen-abstimmungen/volksabstimmungen/volksabstimmungen-2009/abstimmung-2009-11-29/Seiten/default.aspx
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