swiss legal expert to rule on muslim pupils handshake exemption
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

On the validity of a controversial

Swiss legal expert to rule on Muslim pupils' handshake exemption

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Swiss legal expert to rule on Muslim pupils' handshake exemption

The President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga
Geneva - Arab Today

A Swiss legal expert will decide on the validity of a controversial ruling that allows male Muslim students to avoid shaking hands with female teachers for religious reasons, an official said Tuesday.

The decision reached by a school in Switzerland's northern municipality of Therwil sought to reach a compromise with two male students, aged 14 and 15, and their families, but ended up causing uproar and fierce public debate over the limits of religious freedom.

"We have asked for an expert opinion from our legal service," said Deborah Murith, spokeswoman for the education department in the canton of Basel-Country, where Therwil is located.

The two students informed the school that a Swiss custom of pupils shaking teachers' hands violated their faith if the teacher is a woman.

To avoid approving the de facto discrimination of female teachers, the school decided to exempt the boys from shaking hands with any of their teachers, regardless of sex.

That ruling -- made independently by the school without involvement of the cantonal authorities or municipal officials -- triggered an outcry across Switzerland.

Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga insisted on Swiss public television Monday that "shaking hands is part of our culture", in remarks echoed by other senior officials and public figures.

Murith told AFP that the case was "not simple" and that Basel was now trying "to find a balance between religious liberty, the right to education and the legally enshrined equality between men and women."

She said the compromise reached by the school could serve as a "provisional measure", while the legal expert prepares guidance, without specifying when that decision would be made.

The head of the Therwil school system, Christine Akeret, told Swiss media that she plans to abide by the expert ruling, but voiced frustration that she had not previously been given instruction from higher authorities on the matter.

Murith agreed that "there is currently a gap in the current regulation on this subject.

"That is why we have asked for an expert legal opinion," she said.

Switzerland's population of eight million people includes an estimated 350,000 Muslims.

Previous similar disputes have centred on Muslim parents who demanded that their daughters be exempt from swimming lessons, a case that led to the parents being fined.

Muslim families have however secured victories in court against schools which sought to ban the full face veil.

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

swiss legal expert to rule on muslim pupils handshake exemption swiss legal expert to rule on muslim pupils handshake exemption

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

swiss legal expert to rule on muslim pupils handshake exemption swiss legal expert to rule on muslim pupils handshake exemption

 



GMT 23:24 2017 Tuesday ,24 January

Mofida Shiha prefers social TV programs to politics

GMT 21:23 2017 Sunday ,13 August

Fierce clashes between Daesh, SDF in Raqqah

GMT 19:31 2017 Monday ,16 October

Azhar Imam, Mufti to inaugurate international Fatwa

GMT 18:33 2017 Tuesday ,28 March

S. Korea Preparing for N. Korean ICBM Launch

GMT 23:39 2017 Tuesday ,19 September

Iran recruits Afghans, Pakistanis to fight in Syria

GMT 03:51 2017 Saturday ,11 November

'Lazarus' Daly says recovery no miracle

GMT 13:30 2017 Friday ,17 February

Four killed in Kashmir Gun battle

GMT 18:51 2017 Friday ,17 November

FIA WEC Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain weekend starts
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday