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| Swiss voters back ban on minarets | Swiss voters back ban on minarets |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Swiss voters have supported a referendum proposal to ban the building of minarets, official results show. | Swiss voters have supported a referendum proposal to ban the building of minarets, official results show. |
| More than 57% of voters and 22 out of 26 cantons - or provinces - voted in favour of the ban. | More than 57% of voters and 22 out of 26 cantons - or provinces - voted in favour of the ban. |
| The proposal had been put forward by the Swiss People's Party, (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which says minarets are a sign of Islamisation. | The proposal had been put forward by the Swiss People's Party, (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which says minarets are a sign of Islamisation. |
| The government opposed the ban, saying it would harm Switzerland's image, particularly in the Muslim world. | The government opposed the ban, saying it would harm Switzerland's image, particularly in the Muslim world. |
| But Martin Baltisser, the SVP's general secretary, told the BBC: "This was a vote against minarets as symbols of Islamic power." | But Martin Baltisser, the SVP's general secretary, told the BBC: "This was a vote against minarets as symbols of Islamic power." |
| The BBC's Imogen Foulkes, in Bern, says the surprise result is very bad news for the Swiss government which fears unrest among the Muslim community. | The BBC's Imogen Foulkes, in Bern, says the surprise result is very bad news for the Swiss government which fears unrest among the Muslim community. |
| Our correspondent says voters worried about rising immigration - and with it the rise of Islam - have ignored the government's advice. | Our correspondent says voters worried about rising immigration - and with it the rise of Islam - have ignored the government's advice. |
| In a statement, the government said it accepted the decision. | In a statement, the government said it accepted the decision. |
| It said: "The Federal Council (government) respects this decision. Consequently the construction of new minarets in Switzerland is no longer permitted." | It said: "The Federal Council (government) respects this decision. Consequently the construction of new minarets in Switzerland is no longer permitted." |
| This will cause major problems because during this campaign mosques were attacked, which we never experienced in 40 years in Switzerland Tamir HadjipoluZurich's Association of Muslim Organisations href="/2/hi/talking_point/8385151.stm">Minaret vote: Your views | |
| Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said: "Concerns [about Islamic fundamentalism] have to be taken seriously. | Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said: "Concerns [about Islamic fundamentalism] have to be taken seriously. |
| "However, a ban on the construction of new minarets is not a feasible means of countering extremist tendencies." | "However, a ban on the construction of new minarets is not a feasible means of countering extremist tendencies." |
| She sought to reassure Swiss Muslims, saying the decision was "not a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture". | She sought to reassure Swiss Muslims, saying the decision was "not a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture". |
| Switzerland is home to some 400,000 Muslims and has just four minarets. | Switzerland is home to some 400,000 Muslims and has just four minarets. |
| After Christianity, Islam is the most widespread religion in Switzerland, but it remains relatively hidden. | After Christianity, Islam is the most widespread religion in Switzerland, 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 claimed 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 claimed 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 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 incited hatred. On Thursday the Geneva mosque was vandalised for the third time during the campaign, according to local media. |
| Amnesty International said the vote violated freedom of religion and would probably be overturned by the Swiss supreme court or the European Court of Human Rights. | Amnesty International said the vote violated freedom of religion and would probably be overturned by the Swiss supreme court or the European Court of Human Rights. |
| 'Political symbol' | 'Political symbol' |
| The president of Zurich's Association of Muslim Organisations, Tamir Hadjipolu, told the BBC: "This will cause major problems because during this campaign mosques were attacked, which we never experienced in 40 years in Switzerland. | The president of Zurich's Association of Muslim Organisations, Tamir Hadjipolu, told the BBC: "This will cause major problems because during this campaign mosques were attacked, which we never experienced in 40 years in Switzerland. |
| "Islamaphobia has increased intensively." | "Islamaphobia has increased intensively." |
| And there was dismay among Switzerland's Muslims upon hearing the result. | And there was dismay among Switzerland's Muslims upon hearing the result. |
| It's a message that you are not welcome here as true citizens of this society Elham Manea, co-founder of the Forum for a Progressive Islam | It's a message that you are not welcome here as true citizens of this society Elham Manea, co-founder of the Forum for a Progressive Islam |
| Farhad Afshar, president of the Coordination of Islamic Organisations in Switzerland, said: "The most painful thing for us is not the ban on minarets but the symbol sent by this vote. | Farhad Afshar, president of the Coordination of Islamic Organisations in Switzerland, said: "The most painful thing for us is not the ban on minarets but the symbol sent by this vote. |
| "Muslims do not feel accepted as a religious community." | "Muslims do not feel accepted as a religious community." |
| Elham Manea, co-founder of the Forum for a Progressive Islam, added: "My fear is that the younger generation will feel unwelcome. | Elham Manea, co-founder of the Forum for a Progressive Islam, added: "My fear is that the younger generation will feel unwelcome. |
| "It's a message that you are not welcome here as true citizens of this society." | "It's a message that you are not welcome here as true citizens of this society." |
| Sunday's referendum was held after the SVP collected 100,000 signatures from voters within 18 months calling for a vote. | Sunday's referendum was held after the SVP collected 100,000 signatures from voters within 18 months calling for a vote. |
| In recent years countries across Europe have been debating how best to integrate Muslim populations. | In recent years countries across Europe have been debating how best to integrate Muslim populations. |
| France focused on the headscarf, while in Germany there was controversy over plans to build one of Europe's largest mosques. | France focused on the headscarf, while in Germany there was controversy over plans to build one of Europe's largest mosques. |