SWITZERLAND SAYS 'NO' TO THE BUILDING OF ISLAMIC MINARETS.

Switzerland votes on Muslim minaret ban.

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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.

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.

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.

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.