Swiss govt denies Syrian family citizenship after hand shake row

Authorities in Switzerland have suspended the citizenship of two teenage Syrian brothers after the pair refused to shake hands with their female teachers for religious reasons.

Stating why they refused to shake hands with their teachers, the pair aged 14 and 15 who are both sons of a Syrian refugee who was granted asylum in 2001, told education officials that physical contact with women who are not family members violated their interpretation of Islam.

Following the incident, authorities in the northern municipality of Therwil, where the drama played out informed that naturalisation proceedings for the family had been put on hold.

Read also: Riots erupt in Cairo after police kills 2 over price of cup of tea

Swiss officials also informed that such suspensions are common in citizenship procedures as authorities often require supplemental information about the families concerned.

The two boys had been exempted from a Swiss custom of pupils shaking teachers’ hands, with Therwil officials instructing them to avoid contact with male teachers as well to avoid gender discrimination.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now