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| Switzerland votes on minaret ban | Switzerland votes on minaret ban |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The people of Switzerland have been voting on whether to ban the building of minarets in their country. | |
| The proposal is backed by the Swiss People's Party (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which claims minarets are a sign of Islamisation. | The proposal is backed by the Swiss People's Party (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which claims minarets are a sign of Islamisation. |
| Opponents say a ban would discriminate, and that the campaign has stirred hatred. The government opposes a ban. | Opponents say a ban would discriminate, and that the campaign has stirred hatred. The government opposes a ban. |
| Switzerland is home to some 400,000 Muslims and has just four minarets. Referendum results are due at 1700GMT. | |
| Islam is the most widespread religion after Christianity, but it remains relatively hidden. | Islam is the most widespread religion after Christianity, but it remains relatively hidden. |
| There are unofficial Muslim prayer rooms, and planning applications for new minarets are almost always refused. | There are unofficial Muslim prayer rooms, and planning applications for new minarets are almost always refused. |
| Supporters of a ban claim that allowing minarets would represent the growth of an ideology and a legal system - Sharia law - which are incompatible with Swiss democracy. | Supporters of a ban claim that allowing minarets would represent the growth of an ideology and a legal system - Sharia law - which are incompatible with Swiss democracy. |
| But others say the referendum campaign has incited hatred. On Thursday the Geneva mosque was vandalised for the third time during the campaign, according to local media. | But others say the referendum campaign has incited hatred. On Thursday the Geneva mosque was vandalised for the third time during the campaign, according to local media. |
| If you are telling me that we are going to ban all religious symbols from all religious buildings, I would not have a problem with that Elham Manea Forum for a Progressive Islam Pointed argument | If you are telling me that we are going to ban all religious symbols from all religious buildings, I would not have a problem with that Elham Manea Forum for a Progressive Islam Pointed argument |
| Opinion polls ahead of the vote are close, with signs that a small majority will reject the ban. | Opinion polls ahead of the vote are close, with signs that a small majority will reject the ban. |
| The BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Bern that that would be a relief to the Swiss government, which fears banning minarets would cause unrest among the Muslim community and damage Switzerland's relations with Islamic countries. | The BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Bern that that would be a relief to the Swiss government, which fears banning minarets would cause unrest among the Muslim community and damage Switzerland's relations with Islamic countries. |
| Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz said: "Muslims should be able to practice their religion and have access to minarets in Switzerland too. But the call of the muezzin [call to prayer] will not sound here." | Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz said: "Muslims should be able to practice their religion and have access to minarets in Switzerland too. But the call of the muezzin [call to prayer] will not sound here." |
| Amnesty International has warned that the ban would violate Switzerland's obligations to freedom of religious expression. | Amnesty International has warned that the ban would violate Switzerland's obligations to freedom of religious expression. |
| 'Discrimination' | 'Discrimination' |
| Elham Manea, founder of the Forum for a Progressive Islam, pointed to the recent construction of Sikh temples and Serbian Orthodox churches, saying a ban on minarets alone would be discriminatory. | Elham Manea, founder of the Forum for a Progressive Islam, pointed to the recent construction of Sikh temples and Serbian Orthodox churches, saying a ban on minarets alone would be discriminatory. |
| "If you are telling me that we are going to ban all religious symbols from all religious buildings, I would not have a problem with that," she said. | "If you are telling me that we are going to ban all religious symbols from all religious buildings, I would not have a problem with that," she said. |
| "But if you are just telling me that we are going to target only the Muslims, not the Christians, not the Jews, not the Sikhs, only the Muslims, then I have a problem with it because it is discrimination." | "But if you are just telling me that we are going to target only the Muslims, not the Christians, not the Jews, not the Sikhs, only the Muslims, then I have a problem with it because it is discrimination." |
| It is nothing against Muslims Ulrich SchluerSVP member of parliament | It is nothing against Muslims Ulrich SchluerSVP member of parliament |
| Most of Switzerland's Muslims come from former Yugoslavia. There is no history of Islamic extremism, but supporters of a ban say minarets are far more than religious architecture. | Most of Switzerland's Muslims come from former Yugoslavia. There is no history of Islamic extremism, but supporters of a ban say minarets are far more than religious architecture. |
| They claim allowing them would be a sign that Islamic law is accepted in Switzerland. | They claim allowing them would be a sign that Islamic law is accepted in Switzerland. |
| Sunday's referendum is being held after the SVP collected 100,000 signatures from eligible voters within 18 months calling for a vote. | Sunday's referendum is being held after the SVP collected 100,000 signatures from eligible voters within 18 months calling for a vote. |
| SVP member of parliament Ulrich Schluer said the referendum campaign had helped integration by encouraging debate. He rejected the charge of discrimination. | SVP member of parliament Ulrich Schluer said the referendum campaign had helped integration by encouraging debate. He rejected the charge of discrimination. |
| "Every Muslim is allowed to come together with other Muslims to have the religion together," he told the BBC. | "Every Muslim is allowed to come together with other Muslims to have the religion together," he told the BBC. |
| "But a minaret is a political symbol. It is a symbol for introducing, step-by-step, Sharia rights also in Switzerland, parallel to the Swiss law which is a result of Swiss democracy. And this is the problem. It is nothing against Muslims." | "But a minaret is a political symbol. It is a symbol for introducing, step-by-step, Sharia rights also in Switzerland, parallel to the Swiss law which is a result of Swiss democracy. And this is the problem. It is nothing against Muslims." |
| In recent years many countries in Europe have been debating their relationship with Islam, and how best to integrate their Muslim populations. | In recent years many countries in Europe have been debating their relationship with Islam, and how best to integrate their Muslim populations. |
| France focused on the headscarf, while in Germany there was controversy over plans to build one of Europe's largest mosques in Cologne. | France focused on the headscarf, while in Germany there was controversy over plans to build one of Europe's largest mosques in Cologne. |
| Are you in Switzerland? What do you think of the proposed ban? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Switzerland? What do you think of the proposed ban? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |