Schlüer responded that the comparison was invalid because the steeple and the minaret represent two religions that hold two very different sets of values: "I think Christianity is an attitude of freedom, of recognizing different meanings, of tolerance. Islam has nothing to do with tolerance." Put another way, Christianity embraces and epitomizes Western secular values such as toleration and freedom, the very values Islam rejects. Since Islam is so different, so "other," its symbols cannot be allowed to occupy public space and promote values that are "foreign" to the Swiss people.

Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Intro…, loc. 57