Excerpt:
The political climate for minorities in Switzerland is becoming more difficult, an expert tells swissinfo.ch.
Gülcan Akkaya, vice president of the Federal Commission against Racism, says Switzerland needs a policy that includes and recognises everyone living here.
Her comments come after the population voted in favour of a controversial anti-minaret building initiative in November 2009 and prepares to vote on a people's initiative to deport foreign criminals. Another issue making the news is the debate in Switzerland over wearing headscarves and burkas.
Akkaya works as a project leader and teacher at Lucerne University's institute of socio-cultural development.