09-27-2004, 10:10 AM
<b>Swiss reject easing citizenship rules</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Nearly 57 percent of voters opposed granting automatic citizenship to third-generation children born to immigrant families. In a slightly closer result, nearly 52 percent rejected easing naturalization rules for first- and second-generation residents raised and schooled here<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Right-wing opponents argued the changes would undermine what it means to be Swiss. They drew widespread criticism over a referendum campaign that featured Osama bin Laden's photo on a Swiss ID card and <span style='font-size:12pt;line-height:100%'>advertisements claiming Switzerland could be taken over by Muslims.</span><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Nearly 57 percent of voters opposed granting automatic citizenship to third-generation children born to immigrant families. In a slightly closer result, nearly 52 percent rejected easing naturalization rules for first- and second-generation residents raised and schooled here<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Right-wing opponents argued the changes would undermine what it means to be Swiss. They drew widespread criticism over a referendum campaign that featured Osama bin Laden's photo on a Swiss ID card and <span style='font-size:12pt;line-height:100%'>advertisements claiming Switzerland could be taken over by Muslims.</span><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->