Source: Neue Zürcher Zeitung
28.04.2017 10:54
https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/islamische-fundamentalisten-izrs-weicht-fuer-konferenz-nach-istanbul-aus-ld.1289313Translation by me.
Also footnotes and [stuff in these brackets]
Swiss islamists flee to ErdoganBecause of an alleged, through "islamophobia poisoned social climate", the self proclaimed Islamischer Zentralrat der Schweiz* holds its "peace conference" abroad - in Turkey.
The controversial Islamische Zentralrat der Schweiz (IZRS)* wanted to hold its "peace conference" in the World Trade Center in Zurich nord on the 6th and 7th of may. The organisation estimated approximately thousand guests, invited were numberous speakers, including controversial figures out of the islamistic milieu. But the Pensionskasse** of Kanton Zurich which owns the desired meeting place intervened and forbid the renting. The IZRS raged and spoke of "breach of contract", which they will counter - but now the organisation has decided on an alternative scenario.
According to a press conference which was convened at short notice in Zurich on friday forenoon, the IZRS adjourns the conference on the next but one weekend to Istanbul. All speakers had confirmed that they would speak in the turkish metropolis as well. "Not a turkish audience will be adressed, but furthermore the muslim and non-muslim public in Switzerland and middle europe." writes the IZRS on its website. For that reason, the whole programm will be streamed on the internet and simultaneously translated to German, they say.
Value-conservatives*** and inner security.Head of IZRS, Nicolas Blancho, says the reason for the sidestep to Turkey is that there are "justified doubts that there exists any significant social will to put through the constitutional basic rights, independent of race, provenance or religion." He speaks of a "poisoned climate" and sees a tendency towards restricting basic rights especially when dealing with muslims. Value-conservative*** opinions would be enough, he claims, to be suspected of "endangering the inner security".
Blancho points at the decision of the Bundesgericht [federal court] in october 2015. The judges in Lausanne reproved the authorities in Freiburg because they forbid the IZRS holding its annual conference in 2014 at the congress center in Freiburg, thus violating the association's right to assemble.
Relieved by the development is Zurich's security director, Mario Fehr (SP [social democratic party]). "I don't really care where congresses of islamists happen", he says to Radio 1. "The best would probably be if they didn't happen at all. But if they do, then please not in Zurich, but somewhere on this world. Best in Saudi Arabia - but if they go to Turkey, that's ok too."
*"Islamic Central Council of Switzerland"
**pension fund
***didn't know how to translate that. Basically a conservative that cares about traditional values and virtues. Well, don't they all?
Please let me know if anything is unclear in the translation.
Edit: Corrected two minor errors