The Vatican has slammed Switzerland's referendum vote to ban the building of minarets next to Muslim mosques, saying it is a 'blow to freedom of religion.'

The Vatican on Monday supported a statement by the conference of Swiss Bishops that censured the vote for heightening "the problems of cohabitation between religions and cultures."

The ban is an insult to the feelings of the Muslim community, not only in Switzerland but across the world, Egypt's Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa said following the vote.

Muslim figureheads from Indonesia and Egypt, as well as Switzerland, denounced the far-right initiative that claims the minarets, distinct architectural features of Islamic mosques, are a sign of the radical "Islamisation" of the country.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, whose country has focused on pressuring Muslim women over wearing burqas, expressed shock over the ban, saying it amounted to "oppressing a religion."

More than 57.5% of voters and 22 out of 26 cantons (provinces) voted in favor of the ban, to the embarrassment of the government, which had officially opposed the referendum over concern that it would harm the country's image.

However, Bern said it would have to honor the majority decision.

The country's largest party, the nationalist Swiss People's Party (SVP) and the Federal Democratic Union joined forces to convince people that the minaret posed a threat to Switzerland's future.

In their campaign posters, allowed under freedom of speech despite its Islamophobic depiction, the Swiss flag is seen covered with missile-like minarets next to a menacing figure of a woman cloaked in a black burqa.

ZHD/HGH