BERLIN - A mainstream Swiss political leader is calling for a ban on separate Muslim and Jewish cemeteries.
Christophe Darbellay, president of the Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland, made the statement in a television interview Tuesday, two days after an initiative to ban minarets was passed by Swiss voters.
The anti-minaret initiative came from the opposing party, the ultra-conservative Swiss People's Party and other right-wing political organizations. Critics say Darbellay is starting a "crusade," to attract voters by proposing similarly xenophobic measures.
Mainstream politicians and religious leaders across Europe have reacted with dismay to the anti-minaret vote.
According to the Swiss online daily Tagesanzeiger, Darbellay also wants to ban the wearing of burkas, head-to-toe veils worn by some fundamentalist Muslim women.
Reportedly, Darbellay said existing cemeteries would not be affected by a ban. But there should be no separate cemeteries in the future, he said.
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