Saturday, May 11, 2013

Muslim teens not exempt from swimming lessons in Swiss school...

Integration of foreigners is more important than their religious beliefs, Switzerland’s highest court ruled on Friday. The court denied a 14-year-old girl from a strict Muslim family in Aargau the right to dispensation from school swim class.

The family argued that their strict religion prevented the girl from taking part in swimming lessons, where she would be seen by her male teacher and possibly other men. The girl already knew how to swim, having attended a private class strictly for Muslim girls, they added.

However, the court ruled that the girl must attend the swimming lessons offered at the high school: lessons were offered separately for girls and boys; wearing of a burkini – a full-body swmisuit – was allowed; and the girl would not have bodily contact with her male swimming teacher, since she already knew how to swim.

The court also stated that attendance at a Muslim-only swim course did not further integration, one of the goals of school swimming. Full story...

Related posts:
  1. Muslim parents in Switzerland fined for children missing swimming classes...
  2. Media responsible for negative image of Muslims in Switzerland?
  3. Why did the Swiss vote to ban minarets on mosques?
  4. Muslims outraged over pig parts dumped at Swiss mosque site...
  5. Swimming pool windows blacked out 'to protect Muslim women's modesty!!!'

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