GENEVA, March 21 (IslamOnline.net) - The Democratic Christian Party (PDC) in Switzerland decided to nominate a hijab-donned Muslim lady to stand in the upcoming municipal elections on April 4, in what was hailed by the press as a “unique political and cultural move”.

PDC Chairman Fabio Bacchetta-Cattori said the choice of 20-year-old Nazia Siddiquie came to underline the party’s principles of enhancing tolerance and encouraging the youths to be key players in the political landscape, Swiss daily Le Temps reported Saturday, March 20.

He said the party’s nomination of other candidates of different ethnic and religious backgrounds was a case in point.

PDC leader Alex Pedrazzini agreed that the nomination is a “message of tolerance to enrich the cultural diversity in society”.

Pakistani-born Siddiquie, who immigrated with her family to Switzerland in 1984, said she firmly believes in the principles of the central-right party, which give prominence to the family fabric and the Swiss citizens.

“They are the same principles urged by my religion, which calls for catering to the other,” she said.

“I want to convey the message that I am a Swiss citizen and will try my best to serve best my province Ticino although my nomination might disturb some people.”

Siddiquie took on hijab at 18, describing it as “one of the cornerstones of my religion and not just a mere symbol”.

Professor Matteo Gianni, a specialist in multiculturalism in Geneva University, said the PDC’s decision reflects an ample room for cultural diversity inside the Swiss society.

He cited that the number of the Muslim community in Switzerland had doubled 30 times in the past ten years to 380,000.

But he feared that Siddiquie’s nomination could leave the impression that there are no qualified Christian youths in Switzerland to run for the municipal elections.

Nadia Karmous, the head of the cultural association of Muslim women in Switzerland, said the PDC’s nomination does not run counter to its Christian background.

“There is an ongoing dialogue between us [Muslims], so why the wonder?” She said.

Karmous said the nomination helps clear stereotypes that Muslim women have nothing in life but to stick to their homes.