I

ndonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa decried Tuesday the Swiss voters' decision in a referendum to ban the construction of new mosque towers in the country, calling it "discriminatory" and "a violation against rights to freedom of worship".

"We are deeply disappointed by the Swiss decision, which is contradictory to its image as an inclusive and tolerant nation," Marty said at his office after hosting an interfaith dialogue between top Indonesian religious leaders and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.

He added the Swiss referendum reflected the need for more interfaith dialogues between religious communities, as prejudices against Islam persisted in Western countries.

"We cannot appreciate a policy based on ignorance," he said.

However, Marty stopped short of saying whether he feared the fresh cultural disharmony between Islam and liberal Europe would spark violent protests in the Muslim world.

In 2006, following the publication in a Danish newspaper of cartoons deemed offensive to the Prophet Muhammad, protests erupted worldwide, including in Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population.

Switzerland, Marty said, had already informed Indonesia about the referendum vote a month ago and made clear the Swiss government was against it.

"We have to remain clear-headed," he said.

"Our task is to build a bridge of understanding to resolve the differences."

Nadhlatul Ulama, Indonesia's biggest Islamic organization, expressed its disappointment Monday, saying the minaret ban was a sign of Swiss intolerance to religious freedom. NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi was quoted by NU Online as saying that Muslim countries around the world do not prohibit other believers from practicing their religions.

Swiss Ambassador to Indonesia Bernardino Regazzoni visited the NU headquarters in October to explain the debate on the proposed minaret ban before last Sunday's referendum, during which he also assured NU leaders that his government opposed the initiative.

Catholic priest Benny Susetyo said the West "doesn't understand Islamic culture" and that the minaret ban was triggered by unfounded fears.

"The Church is not allowed to show its identity either," he said, referring to a European court ruling banning crucifixes in public schools.

The Swiss ban on minarets could violate fundamental liberties, Europe's top human-rights watchdog said in an indication that the heavily criticized vote could be overturned.

The Council of Europe said as quoted by the Associated Press Monday that banning "new minarets in Switzerland raises concerns as to whether fundamental rights of individuals, protected by international treaties, should be subject to popular votes".

The statement by the 47-nation council's secretary-general, Thorbjorn Jagland, suggests a case may be made to seek a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights condemning Switzerland for violating freedom of expression, freedom of religion and prohibition of discrimination.

Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said the ban would come into force immediately, but also indicated the courts could strike down Sunday's vote, which drew swift condemnation at home and abroad for banning the towers used to put out the Islamic call to prayer.