Switzerland: No space for black sheep

The upcoming Swiss elections have brought on a divisive election campaign that has caused riots in the streets and brought on the disdain of the United Nation?s special rapporteur for racism, Doudou Diène.

One cartoon image in particular has been at the centre of debates for its provocative depiction of a white sheep kicking a black sheep off of red Swiss pastures. The cartoon, that is plastered across the whole of the small mountain republic, is part of the right wing Swiss People?s Party (SVP) electoral campaign, who?s slogan is ?For more security?.

Mr. Diène, whos offices are in Switzerland, said that there was a ?a dynamic of racism and xenophobia? and added that freedom of expression should not be used to incite racial and religious hatred. The Federal Commission against Racism, the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities and several other local NGOs also voiced their unhappiness with the obviously racist tone of the poster.

The Swiss government?s reply to Diène highlighted the importance of freedom of expression and this same attitude was matched by the UN. Swiss Ambassador Blaise Godet defended the nation?s democratic institutions and added that the application of direct democracy implied a transparent public debate about even the most controversial issues. He did however admit that this sometimes involved "exaggerated" and "regrettable" opinions.

In defence of its election material the SVP explained that ?black sheep? was a common way of describing society?s drop outs, the ?rotten apples? who don?t play by the rules in. The poster served to illustrate one of the SVP?s policies, that of expelling foreign criminals who had committed crimes in Switzerland, once they have completed their sentence. A SVP spokesman also added that: ?It is a very nice poster and we receive a lot of requests from children who want to cut out the pictures of the sheep?.

Doudou Diène however refuses to be convinced and concluded that: "Taking these posters down would be more in line with Switzerland?s image as a country that respects human rights".