No ifs and buts: Muslim boy must shake hands with female teachers

Authorities say refusing to shake hands for religious reasons would be to involve others in a ‘religious act’

A Swiss school has rejected the appeal of a Muslim schoolboy who refused to shake hands with female teachers on religious grounds.

“The boy was one of two teenage brothers at a high school in Therwil who caused a nationwide furore earlier this year when they said shaking hands with female teachers went against their religion, which forbids physical contact with a member of the opposite sex who isn't family,” The Local, a European newspaper, reported on Tuesday.

According to the paper, the Basel school had initially agreed to exempt the boys from shaking hands with all teachers, irrespective of gender. This was done to reach a compromise and avoid discrimination against women at the same time. The situation subsequently triggered countrywide outrage, being widely seen as an insult to Swiss culture.



Local authorities then intervened and ruled that the boys must shake their teachers’ hands or face disciplinary measures, as well as a fine of up to 5,000 francs. “The public interest with respect to equality between men and women and the integration of foreigners significantly outweighs the freedom of conscience of the students,” the authorities had said. They also observed that refusing to shake hands for religious reasons would involve others in a “religious act” and was therefore different from the wearing of a headscarf or refusing to take part in swimming lessons.

The rejection comes a week after the school board rejected a complaint lodged by the parents over disciplinary measures taken against their son. Authorities have clarified that it is the teachers’ right to demand a handshake.

Welcoming the school's decision, Monica Gschwind, the head of the city’s education department, said: “Shaking hands with teachers is deeply rooted in our society and culture.” The parents can now lodge a further appeal to the city’s education authorities, but Gschwind said she would lobby the local government to support the school’s decision.

All local customs should be respected in schools, regardless of religion, Gschwind said. “For me it is clear: the handshake is enforced -- no ifs and buts,” she said. Authorities also suspended the family’s Swiss citizenship ever since the case came into the limelight, pending further discussion.



The incident is not without precedent. Teachers at a school in Germany had stormed out of a graduation ceremony in July this year after a Muslim pupil refused to shake hands with female staff on “religious grounds”. As the female teacher at the Kurt-Tucholsky School in Hamburg went to shake hands with the student, he offered his wrist instead saying, “No offence, my religion won’t let me do that. I do not mean to disrespect you.”

This article originally appeared on The Local.