Paris ? French legislators on Tuesday voted to ban Islamic head scarves, Jewish yarmulkes, large Christian crosses and other religious symbols in public schools, all but ensuring passage of a proposed law intended to reaffirm the country’s secular tradition.

In a display of unity across ideological lines, 494 deputies in the National Assembly voted for the measure and 36 voted against it. The legislation now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to pass next month. The ban would go into effect in September and prohibit “conspicuous” religious apparel and symbols while permitting smaller items such as Stars of David.

French leaders called the vote a victory for the religious neutrality of the state and the rights of women against Islamic extremism and, in the words of Education Minister Luc Ferry on Tuesday, against “a spectacular rise in racism and anti-Semitism in the last three years” that troubles schools in ethnically mixed neighborhoods.

The measure has particular concern in France’s Islamic community, the largest in Europe with about 5 million people.

However, the response Tuesday among Muslims was divided and generally muted. Attempts at nationwide protests appeared to fizzle.

Sounding cautiously optimistic, a prominent Muslim leader praised an amendment that would require the impact of the ban to be evaluated a year after its enactment. The amendment was added after negotiations with the Socialist legislative opposition and mainstream Muslim groups.

French Muslims “were right to be prudent” during the recent political debate because of “the national determination to move toward this law,” said Dalil Boubakeur, president of the French Council of the Muslim Creed. He praised the Islamic community “for not permitting itself to fall into the emotional and the irrational.”

The proposal passed just ahead of next month’s regional elections in which the far-right National Front, which blames immigrants and Islam for France’s socioeconomic problems, remains a potent force. The head scarf debate is seen as a gambit by President Jacques Chirac to appeal to conservative voters.