Switzerland: No exemption from mixed swimming classes
Two Muslim students from the Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland, continue to reject mixed swimming classes, though the Federal Supreme Court (TF) dismissed their father's claim last October. With this judgment, the supreme court changed its precedence.
Gerold Meier, lawyer for the Tunisian family living in Schaffhausen , confirmed Friday to news agency ATS the information published by Thurgauer Zeitung, according to which the two boys aren't coming to the mixed swimming classes.
The older boy told his teacher that his religion forbids him from participating. The lawyer thinks it's bad to put kids in such a dilemma.
They have to choose between opposing the TF decision and violating the laws of their religion. They think that disobeying God has more serious consequences for them, because it has consequences for eternal life, says Mr. Meier.
He continues to hope that the school of the two will grant them an exemption. The decision by the TF does not preclude exemptions.
This solution is unlikely, according to the vice-president of the Schaffhausen school, Nathalie Zumstein. Currently a cultural mediator is looking for a compromise with the family.
If the children continue to refuse swimming lessons, the school might impose disciplinary measures, even expelling them from the school. But this wouldn't be right, says Ms. Zumstein, because this would run counter to their integration
In its decision, the TF supported the decision of the Schaffhausen school authority not to grant an exemption to the two boys, aged 11 and 13. They decided that it the need for integration trumped their religious beliefs.
In weighing the interests, the wish of the father to shield his children from seeing girls in swimming suits must be put into proportion, the court said, because every day they see girls on the street with a bare navel.
With this ruling, the TF departed from a previous sensational decision. In 1993 it decided in the name of religious freedom to recognize the right of a Muslim girl to be exempt from swimming lessons in the presence of boys.
Source: Le Matin (French), h/t Bivouac-ID
Two Muslim students from the Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland, continue to reject mixed swimming classes, though the Federal Supreme Court (TF) dismissed their father's claim last October. With this judgment, the supreme court changed its precedence.
Gerold Meier, lawyer for the Tunisian family living in Schaffhausen , confirmed Friday to news agency ATS the information published by Thurgauer Zeitung, according to which the two boys aren't coming to the mixed swimming classes.
The older boy told his teacher that his religion forbids him from participating. The lawyer thinks it's bad to put kids in such a dilemma.
They have to choose between opposing the TF decision and violating the laws of their religion. They think that disobeying God has more serious consequences for them, because it has consequences for eternal life, says Mr. Meier.
He continues to hope that the school of the two will grant them an exemption. The decision by the TF does not preclude exemptions.
This solution is unlikely, according to the vice-president of the Schaffhausen school, Nathalie Zumstein. Currently a cultural mediator is looking for a compromise with the family.
If the children continue to refuse swimming lessons, the school might impose disciplinary measures, even expelling them from the school. But this wouldn't be right, says Ms. Zumstein, because this would run counter to their integration
In its decision, the TF supported the decision of the Schaffhausen school authority not to grant an exemption to the two boys, aged 11 and 13. They decided that it the need for integration trumped their religious beliefs.
In weighing the interests, the wish of the father to shield his children from seeing girls in swimming suits must be put into proportion, the court said, because every day they see girls on the street with a bare navel.
With this ruling, the TF departed from a previous sensational decision. In 1993 it decided in the name of religious freedom to recognize the right of a Muslim girl to be exempt from swimming lessons in the presence of boys.
Source: Le Matin (French), h/t Bivouac-ID
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