The Swiss public voted to ban the construction of new minarets in their country on Sunday. Fifty-seven-and-a-half percent of the public backed the ban, with 53 percent of available voters turning out to vote.

The measure was opposed by the government, but supported by right-wing political parties. The government will respect the public’s decision.

“The vote reflected the strong feeling against Muslims, whose numbers have grown over the past 20 years to about 350,000 or 4 percent of the population,” wrote the Times of London.

This vote is a clear signal that many in Europe are uncomfortable living with Islam in their midst. This feeling is not unique to Switzerland. Geert Wilders—an outspoken opponent of Islam who said the Koran was as bad as Mein Kampf and that if Mohammad were alive today, he would have him “tarred and feathered as an extremist and deported if he were in Holland”—is one of the most popular politicians in the Netherlands.

Many both within and outside of Switzerland are highly critical of the decision, yet radical Islam does pose a threat to Europe. Simply look at Britain, where Islam has been allowed to thrive. “Home grown” terrorists threaten to kill British citizens, and many feel intimidated within their own country.

Yet there is also a warning in Switzerland’s vote, a sign of the people’s growing discontent. Europe has a history of violently cracking down on immigrants it does not like. As Islam pushes at Europe, watch for Europe to stand up for itself, and push back.

“This is a clash between two religions—Roman Catholicism and Islam,” we wrote in 2003. “More specifically, it is a clash between the extreme elements of these two religions. The extremists, at present, constitute a small minority of Muslims and Catholics. But be assured, you will be able to watch as their numbers swell and eventually grow to become the dominant force within each of those religions.”

For more information on Islam’s rise, and the European reaction, as prophesied in Scripture, see our article “Is Islam a Threat?”