Switzerland: Muslim students must shake teacher's hand

[Deleted]

Good for Switzerland!! BTW - this is NOT about religion, it is about CULTURE and assimilating to your host country's culture.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36382596

Muslim students in Switzerland must shake their teacher's hand at the beginning and end of lessons, a regional authority has ruled.

A controversial exemption from the tradition had been granted for two teenage brothers whose interpretation of the Koran meant they were unwilling to touch a member of the opposite sex.

If they continue to refuse, their parents could face a fine.

The regional authority said teachers "had the right" to demand handshakes.

Shaking teachers' hands as a sign of respect is a longstanding tradition in Switzerland.

When it emerged last month that a middle school had allowed two Syrian brothers aged 14 and 15 to avoid the tradition due to their religious beliefs, it sparked a national controversy.

The boys, whose father is an imam, said their faith did not allow them to shake hands with a woman who was not related to them.

Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga said on television that "shaking hands is part of our culture".

There are about 350,000 Muslims in Switzerland, which has a population of eight million.

Some Swiss Muslim groups said there was no religious justification for refusing to shake a female teacher's hand and urged the Swiss not to give in to extremist demands. But one Islamic organisation said a handshake between men and women was prohibited.

The family's citizenship process was halted and the migration office in Basel said it was seeking more information about the circumstances under which the boys' father's asylum request was approved.

The school, in the small northern town of Therwil, had tried to find a compromise in the matter by deciding the boys should not shake hands with male or female teachers.

Later, after considerable media attention, the school turned to regional authorities to settle the matter.

The authorities said in a statement on Wednesday that "the public interest concerning gender equality as well as integration of foreigners far outweighs that concerning the freedom of belief of students".

The school said it was "relieved" at the ruling and that there was now "clarity on how to proceed".

In future, the parents or guardians of pupils in the northern canton of Basel-Country could face fines of up to 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,400; $5,000; 4,500 euros) if the pupils refuse to shake hands with a teacher.

The boys told Swiss media (in German) that "nobody could make them" shake hands with a woman, and that they "could not just delete their culture as if it were a hard drive".

[Kellhound]

Good for Switzerland!! BTW - this is NOT about religion, it is about CULTURE and assimilating to your host country's culture.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36382596

They dont like Western culture, they are free to move to a more "accommodating" one, like Iran.

[Socialhealer]

They dont like Western culture, they are free to move to a more "accommodating" one, like Iran.

yup, don't like our culture, i've got 2 words for ya.

FUCK OFF.

[Deleted]

The boys told Swiss media (in German) that "nobody could make them" shake hands with a woman, and that they "could not just delete their culture as if it were a hard drive".

They are right that no one can directly force them to shake hands with someone. However, they might want to reconsider this stance if their parents get one fine after another.
This is outright disrespectful behaviour that should not be encouraged.

[Deleted]

Awesome! Big kudos to Switzerland. Now don't allow building mosques in Europe and we will have safe future.


[Infracted]

[Azadina]

If they are unwilling to accept women as equals, instead of property or of lesser value, then they are free to go back where they came from.

[Deleted]

This religion needs to die and it can take off it's followers with them.


[Infracted]

[BuckSparkles]

Look at all the fascists in here.

Don't you know -we- need to conform to -them-?




[Infracted]

[lonely zergling]

Good. When you visit their origin country you are expected to show respect too. So this is only fair.

[Karamaru]

This religion needs to die and it can take off it's followers with them.

whoa calm down Adolf


OT:good that there is a fine to this more european countries need to adobt this fine system,looks like a good way to weed out the extremists and Islamists to a certain degree.

[Maximus Testiculos]

whoa calm down Adolf


OT:good that there is a fine to this more european countries need to adobt this fine system,looks like a good way to weed out the extremists and Islamists to a certain degree.

This is a rule of religion not extremism. How much more can you be naive?

[Karamaru]

This is a rule of religion not extremism. How much more can you be naive?

I said "to a certain degree" learn to read please.

[Powerogue]

As minor the incident might be, the precedent is clear: If you're moving to a country with a different culture than your own, expect to have to adapt to it. That means, in this case, shaking hands.

[Azadina]

As minor the incident might be, the precedent is clear: If you're moving to a country with a different culture than your own, expect to have to adapt to it. That means, in this case, shaking hands.

That's how it should be. Otherwise people may aswell return to their own cultures, if they are unwilling to adapt, and the cultural values do not match at all.

[Deleted]

Seems small, but then again handshaking as a national tradition, should absolutely trump a foreign religions rules/tradition.

[ComputerNerd]

They dont like Western culture, they are free to move to a more "accommodating" one, like Iran.

Exactly.
If they want us to cater to them, it should go both ways.
We already give a lot, they can give some.
If you want to integrate or take the benefits we offer then it needs to be mutual.

[Celista]

Shaking hands before and after each lesson? That is interesting, we definitely don't do that here in the US.

[TwoNineMarine]

Good for you Switzerland! Stand up for yourself.

[Damajin]

Good, the culture should not accommodate them, they should step up to the plate if they want to stay in it and get those benefits.

[Deleted]

Shaking hands before and after each lesson? That is interesting, we definitely don't do that here in the US.

neither here, but if thats part of a countries customs, they should do it. not shaking someones hand for sexist reasons should not be tolerated