Muslims in EuropeMuslim schoolboys in Switzerland must shake hands with female teachers

Published 23 September 2016

Amer Salhani, a 15-year-old Muslim schoolboy a school in Therwil, Switzerland has been told by a Swiss education authority that he must agree to shake hands with female teachers or face being fined and disciplined. Salhani lost his appeal after refusing to shake hands with a female teacher in April because, he argued, it would have violated his religious beliefs. He, and other students who refuse to shake teachers’ hands, will now be fined up to £4,000 if they fail to comply with the order.

Amer Salhani, a 15-year-old Muslim schoolboy a school in Therwil, Switzerland has been told by a Swiss education authority that he must agree to shake hands with female teachers or face being fined and disciplined.

The Daily Mail reports thatSalhani lost his appeal after refusing to shake hands with a female teacher in April because, he argued, it would have violated his religious beliefs.

He, and other students who refuse to shake teachers’ hands, will now be fined up to £4,000 if they fail to comply with the order.

Last spring, Salhani and his older brother were granted a temporary waiver from the requirement of shaking hands with female teachers while the regional teaching authority considered the issue. Education officials have now agreed that “a teacher has the right to demand a handshake” from any of their students.

The local school initially agreed to allow the Salhani brothers not to shake hands with female teachers, but that decision has been widely criticized in Switzerland, and was rescinded.

the news Web site Blick reports that the older Salhani brother left the school in June, but that Amer, the younger brother, has returned to the school at the beginning of the school year three weeks ago and reportedly still refused to shake hands with female teachers.

Monica Gschwind, the head of Therwil’s education department, said: “Shaking hands with teachers is deeply rooted in our society and culture. For me it is clear: the handshake is enforced — no ifs, no buts.”

Back in April, when the incident was first reported, the region’s education authority said: “The public interest with respect to equality between men and women and the integration of foreigners significantly outweighs the freedom of conscience (freedom of religion) of the students.”

The education authority, in its decision earlier this week, said that the disciplinary measures imposed for failure to comply with the handshaking requirement could range from an oral warning a fine and expulsion.

The boy’s parents can file an appeal of the decision with the local education authority.