Swiss population had a vote on whether to ban construction of minarets in the country.

The proposal relies on the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which approves, the minarets are a sign of Islamization.
Critics say that would prohibit discrimination, and that the campaign provoked hatred. Government opposes the ban.
Switzerland is home to about 400,000 Muslims, and only four minarets.

Islam is the most widespread religion after Christianity, but it remains relatively hidden.

There is an unofficial Muslim prayer rooms, as well as planning applications for new minarets almost always refused.

Supporters of the ban argue that the minarets which allows to represent the growth ideology and legal system – the Shariah – which are incompatible with the Swiss democracy.

But others say that the referendum campaign has incited hatred. On Thursday in Geneva, the mosque was vandalized for the third time in the campaign, according to local media.

If you tell me what we’re going to ban all religious symbols from all religious buildings, I would not have problems with this
Elham Mani
Forum for Progressive Islam

Opinion polls before the close of voting, when there are indications that a small majority will reject the ban.

Air Imogen Foulkes reports from Berne, it will facilitate the Swiss government, which fears ban minarets would cause unrest among the Muslim community and damage relations with Islamic countries of Switzerland.

Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz said: “Muslims should be able to practice their religion and have access to the minarets in Switzerland, too. But the call of the muezzin [call to prayer] sound will not be here.”

Amnesty International has warned that the ban is a violation of the Swiss commitment to freedom of religion.

“Discrimination”

Elham Mani, the founder of the Forum for Progressive Islam, pointed to the recent construction of a Sikh temple and the Serbian Orthodox Church, saying banning minarets only be discriminatory.

“If you tell me what we’re going to ban all religious symbols from all religious buildings, there would be no problem with,” she said.

“But if you just tell me what we’re going to target only Muslims, not Christians, not Jews, Sikhs, not only Muslims, I have a problem with it because it’s discrimination.”

It’s nothing against Muslims
Ulrich Schluer
AEP member of parliament

The majority of Muslims in Switzerland come from the former Yugoslavia. There is no history of Islamic extremism, but supporters of the ban minarets say much more than religious architecture.

They argue that allowing them would be a sign that Islamic laws are made in Switzerland.

Sunday referendum is held after the SVP collected 100,000 signatures of voters in the 18 months called for the vote.

SVP MP said Ulrich Schluer the referendum campaign has helped to promote integration through the debate. He rejected accusations of discrimination.

“Every Muslim has the right to come together with other Muslims, to have a religion together,” he told the BBC.

“But the minaret of a political character. It is a symbol for the introduction, step by step, sharia law, and in Switzerland, along with Swiss law, which is the result of Swiss democracy. And this is a problem. It’s nothing against Muslims.”

In recent years, many European countries have been discussing their relationship with Islam, and how best to integrate their Muslim populations.

France focused on the handkerchief, and in Germany there was a dispute over plans to build one of the largest mosques in Europe in Cologne.