European Court dismisses Muslim suit on minaret building banJuly 8, 2011 - 14:50 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A court has dismissed a challenge by Muslim groups to Switzerland's minaret building ban. According to The Associated Press, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the people filing the lawsuits - a former spokesman for a Geneva mosque and several Swiss Muslim groups - couldn't claim to be victims. A panel of seven judges with the Strasbourg, France-based, court said Friday, July 8, the lawsuit failed to show how the ban "had any practical effect on them." Swiss voters in 2009 approved a ban on minarets forcing the Swiss government - which had opposed the initiative - to declare illegal the building of any new towers in Switzerland to put out the Islamic call to prayer. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |