Zurich parliament backs headscarf ban in public schools

Zurich’s cantonal parliament has backed a proposal to ban headscarves in public schools and kindergartens, instructing the cantonal government to draft legislation, reported SRF. Photo by Keira Burton on Pexels.com The motion, proposed by the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), passed on Monday by 87 votes to 82, with six abstentions. It would prohibit female pupils and teachers from wearing religious head coverings in public educational institutions. The UDC/SVP cited France, where conspicuous religious symbols, including Islamic headscarves, have been banned in state schools since 2004. The motion claimed that the French policy had improved th…