Kosovo's Parliament Votes Down Religion In Schools, Hijab In Classroom

Kosovo's Constitution (Art. 8) provides that "The Republic of Kosovo is a secular state and is neutral in matters of religious belief."  Reaffirming that principle, 64 members of the country's 120-member Parliament have voted against proposals introduced by small religious parties to teach religion in the schools and to end the ban on wearing of the hijab (headscarf) in classrooms. AFP, reporting yesterday on these developments, points out that Kosvo is 90% Muslim, but has a tradition of moderate Islam.