Swissinfo.ch reports that voters in Switzerland today approved an initiative supported by the right- wing Swiss People's Party and the Federal Democratic Union imposing a ban on the construction of minarets in the country. The final tally showed that 57.5% of the voters and a majority of the cantons backed the initiative. The government, and most political parties, churches and businesses had all opposed the ban. A government statement after the vote said that the Federal Council respects the decision of the voters. New minaret construction is now banned. The four existing minarets will be permitted to remain. Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, who strongly opposed the ban, said the initiative was really a proxy for opposition to perceived creeping Islamicisation and sharia law. Opponents fear the vote will fuel extremism and tarnish Switzerland's reputation in the Muslim world. Switzerland has around 350,000 Muslim immigrants (4.5% of the population), mostly moderates from the former Yugoslavia and Turkey. It is estimated that there are 160 mosques and prayer rooms in the country, mainly in empty factories and warehouses.
UPDATE: The London Telegraph has more detailed vote results: 57.5% in favor (1.534 million people), 42.5% against (1.135 million people), with 22 of the 26 cantons in support of the initiative.
