Zurich cantonal authorities have decided not to ban the wearing of veils in schools during the Muslim month of Ramadan.
The cantonal parliament rejected by 104 votes to 65 a motion put forward by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party which wanted to ban the veil in places of education “in order to makes Swiss values respected in schools”.
The motion had also wanted to do away with a special dispensation for Muslims in sports lessons during Ramadan.
Among those who rejected the motion on Monday, the centre-right Radicals said the current cantonal recommendations were “absolutely sufficient”.
Last year the People’s Party, the largest party in Switzerland, championed an initiative to ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland. This was accepted by voters on November 29.