The Swiss parliament recently voted to ban the burka, passing the legislation by a minuscule majority of 88 to 87.
But a leading religious leader, Imam Mustafa Memeti, from the country’s capital, Bern, claimed that the full body covering was not demanded under Islamic law.
He said that the religious garment cannot be theologically justified, from any perspective.
And he claimed his viewpoint was one true Muslims would welcome.
The Conservative Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which proposed the ban, has annoyed moderate Muslims in the past, according to the Imam, but the current proposal was "no signal against Muslims, and if anything it was only a move against the ultraconservatives.”
Defending his position the cleric, who is the Imam of the Muslim Association of Bern and as President of the Albanian Islamic Association, said his belief was the burka had no basis in religion. [Daily Express] Read more
