Cairo - The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Ali Gomaa, slammed the vote in Switzerland to disallow the building of minarets as an "insult" to all Muslims, media reported Monday. In a statement carried by Egypt's MENA news agency, Gomaa said the vote in favour of the initiative in the Alpine land was an "attack" on the freedom of religion.
The mufti - the highest appointed religious figure in the most populous Arab state - encouraged Swiss Muslims to use legal means to protest and to engage in a dialogue within their society.
A large majority of voters on Sunday passed a referendum banning the construction of minarets, in what was a surprise outcome. The government in Bern had been opposed to the ban.
Some 400,000 Muslims live in Switzerland.
