France's burqa ban: 5 ways Europe is targeting Islam

Swiss minarets ban

Dominic Favre/Keystone/AP
The minaret of the big mosque of Geneva is reflected in a mirror Nov. 29, 2009, in Geneva, Switzerland. Swiss voters approved a move to ban the construction of minarets in a vote on Nov. 29, 2009, on a right-wing initiative that labeled the mosque towers as symbols of militant Islam.

In a controversial November 2009 referendum, the Swiss voted to ban the construction of more minarets in the country. The vote was described as a reflection of growing concern about the rise of Islam’s influence in Europe, traditionally a Christian society. Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe.

At the time, the country had only four mosques with minarets and the call to prayer was already banned from being broadcast over loudspeakers.

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