Switzerland Suspends Citizenship process for Muslim Family

I don't understand the big deal- just because they didn't shake a female's hand doesn't mean they can't bring any valuable substance to the world. What were they supposed to do? Integrate into a Western society immediately upon arrival? They clearly were brought up in a conservative Muslim household/society in which gender mixing wasn't their custom. Not everyone was brought up with 'western' customs it's not that big a deal

surely shaking hands is a basic sign of respect between two people though. islam shouldn't be interpreted in a way that causes a lack of respect, right? a religion "of peace" shouldn't be like that at all.

I did not know that Muslims are not allowed to shake female hands.
Why?

The Swiss are offended and stopped naturalisation proceedings because some people refused to shake the hand of someone else?

That's extremely petty and child like.

Re-read my post, I didn't say it was backward, it is a clear example of how the West do not have it right all the time. That's my point, she is exercising choice, a choice that the majority would disagree with, a choice nonetheless. She is not hurting anyone? I think she is clearly hurting the basic principles of morality, not something I want my children to grow up seeing.

Freedom of choice applies across the board.

You've misunderstood my post in that the point i am making is individual choices and differences make the world what it is, we should appreciate and not dictate what is acceptable based on the human development index which was produced by the West in any event. "Here's a stat we created to prove we know it all".

Go and research how many Human Rights infringements the West is being investigated for by Human Rights Watch to get an idea of exactly how progressive the West is.

Religion of peace also tells you that there are other ways to show respect, it's sad people don't know this.

This is so stupid honestly.
The boys didn't shake their teachers hand for religious reasons. Get over it and move on.

I did not know that Muslims are not allowed to shake female hands.
Why?

what's wrong with handshakes? what about cultural assimilation?

1) what's wrong with handshakes? what about cultural assimilation?
2) what other ways?

Question. If someone who had OCD, with panic attacks when touching someone else's hand and had to scrub the skin raw afterwards, requested nicely to avoid shaking hands, would that be a reasonable reason to halt naturalisation in the opinions of the 'kick them out' people?

Just curious as to where the line's drawn.

And if they can't even touch the hand of a female teacher, as a child, what does that say about their future ability to integrate and interact with the society that they are attempting to gain membership of?

I do not support any kind of blanket immigration controls, but I am in favour of having certain, basic standards. Saying "I have been brought up to consider women as something socially suspect, and on questioning, confirm these views as non negotiable", fails to measure up.

You can give gifts, be polite in speech etc.

Petty by both sides imo.

a) just shake hands and get on with it
b) accept your hand hasn't been shaken and get on with it

Honestly

The motto of those content with ignorance, in a nutshell.



The Swiss authorities haven't done any of that. Moreover, I think you'll find that calling somebody 'gay' as an insult is more commonly done by Muslims than to them.



Funnily enough, this is exactly the sort of thing that happens in many Muslim-majority countries. It's simply accepted as the way things are; people don't go over there and throw tantrums when the authorities don't cater to their every whim.



This is whataboutery, pure and simple.

You don't need to touch the hand of the opposite gender to integrate.

sterotypes....bloody hell. i dont go round calling people gay, and yeah i know gay people, i work with gay people, but i have never ever been homophobic-

so tell me where you found that muslims go round calling people gay.

and im mot talking about the swiss, but more about the people on this thread and people in public mate

In such a case, if it was demonstrably a clinical issue, it probably wouldn't be a problem.

The difference is, these two refused to touch a woman because they follow an extreme interpretation of a medieval ideology. It is a ifestyle choice, not a medical complaint (although that could be debatable!)

Sure it's their rules. Even if it's a ridiculous and absurd one they still have that right to refuse citizenship.