The same referendum would probably produce similar results in other Western European countries if their citizens had the chance cast their ballots. Switzerland is the only country where citizens can easily enact constitutional amendments through a referendum. The collection of 100,000 signatures is enough to force a nation-wide referendum on almost anything.

But another decisive aspect in the Swiss voting behavior may well have been the search for Swiss identity at a time when globalization blurs national boundaries and questions traditional values. Surrounded by Germany, Italy, France and Austria, the Swiss share three languages with their neighboring countries, receive large numbers of their citizens for work every day and share many cultural aspects of life with them. The Swiss have always been keen to show that they are not German or French despite sharing so much with their neighbors.

The constant effort to assert their own national identity brings a certain distrust against anything perceived as foreign or “un-Swiss”, such as the minarets or Islam itself. In a nationalist political narrative, what is foreign becomes negative.

Being fully part of Western societies

Muslims are not the first immigrants to face distrust and hostility in Switzerland. In the 1960s, Italian laborers were the unpopular immigrants in Switzerland and the target of anti-foreigner campaigns. Now, Italians are fully part of Swiss society. The Italians were followed by large numbers of refugees from the Balkan wars in the 1990s, many of whom stayed in Switzerland. The Swiss often referred to them as „Yougos“, a disrespectful term referring to their origin. The fact that most of them were Muslims did not matter at the time. That changed with Sept. 11, 2001. Religion has since become the predominant criteria for identifying immigrants.

Western Europeans through debates about Islam implicitly acknowledge that Muslims are now fully part of their societies, says Dr. Samuel M. Behloul, an expert on Islam in Switzerland with the University of Lucerne.

But in order to live together in peace and find common grounds amid ambivalence of certain cultural differences, Western Europeans have to become aware of the fact that Muslims are part of their societies. Public debates are useful if they are balanced and not just hijacked by political players, because they help all participants to identify the real problems and allow people to learn and eventually leave their prejudice behind.

Moderate Muslims in Switzerland should take part in these debates and not remain silent, as was largely the case during the minaret campaign. Progressive Muslim voices are essential to improve the image of Islam in Western societies and show something different to the public than media stories of terrorist attacks and women hidden under full-body veils.

Without moderate Muslims speaking out, public space can be occupied by groups like the Islamic Central Council of Switzerland, an organization of young Muslims that spreads radical Islamist ideas and has drawn public attention through extremist speeches and niqab-clad women defending its views on Swiss TV talk shows. The fact that a number of progressive Muslim associations have begun to openly distance themselves from that group is an encouraging sign of stir among the large majority of Switzerland's Muslims. They have an important role to play in the much needed cultural education and understanding among Muslims in Switzerland and the Swiss.

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