As expected, Muslim reaction to the vote for banning construction of further minarets in Swltzerland was quite negative. Outrage. Anger. Retaliation. Protest, etc. But what of Muslim states treatment of Christian Churches, or, for that matter, any other religion?

In Pakistan, freedom of religious worship is a constitutional right, but its government openly sets limits on the practice and there have been growing attacks by Militant Groups on both Christian and Shiite targets recently. District-level governments there allegedly ‘routinely’ refuse to grant permission to construct non-muslim places of worship.

In Egypt, Christians must, by law, receive permission of local muslim communities before new construction is allowed. In Saudi Arabia, the public practice of ANY faith other than Islam is illegal. In Indonesia, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian churches or mosques have struggled to receive building permits, and many existing ones have been forced closed.

Not to mention, of course, those states adopting Shariah Law, which is completely intolerant of any other faith but Islam on it’s soil.

So why condemn the people of a country for simply stating what they want, in their own country? Must all countries bow to intolerance and extreme sensitivity? Muslims outnumber Christians, it’s a fact, but countries where people are free to choose, by democratic action, what may or may not become law, outnumber the countries where religious law is absolute.

I choose to live in a country where I am free to choose my religion, my faith, my appearance, even. It’s called a democracy, and, apparently, even that might be illegal under Shariah Law.