General Discussion

The Straight Story

(48,121 posts) Sun May 12, 2013, 05:38 PM May 2013

(Switzerland) Muslim girl made to attend swimming lessons [View all]

Muslim girl made to attend swimming lessons

Integration comes before religion, according to the country’s supreme court. It ruled that a 14-year-old Muslim girl could not be excused from swimming lessons because the teacher was male.

In a judgment on Friday, the Lausanne-based Federal Court said puberty also constituted no grounds for dispensation: the girl could cover up under an Islam-conforming burkini.

The 14-year-old girl from a strict Muslim family attends a district school in the canton of Aargau, the Swiss news agency SDA reported.

In 2011 her parents sought permission for their daughter to be excused from swimming lessons that took place every five weeks under the supervision of a male teacher. Girls and boys were taught separately.

The authorities rejected this request and have now been vindicated by the ruling of the Supreme Court.

http://www.thelocal.ch/page/view/court-rules-against-muslim-family-in-swimming-row#.UZAKckr4KSo

63 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

(Switzerland) Muslim girl made to attend swimming lessons [View all] The Straight Story May 2013 OP

I think it is nerve when people come to a country (any country) and don't learn to adapt to southernyankeebelle May 2013 #1

Yep,, if you don't like secular laws... awoke_in_2003 May 2013 #3

Not just religion. I think when you move to a new country you need to adapt to the southernyankeebelle May 2013 #8

If I moved to a country with Sharia law, I still wouldn't become a misogynist. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #10

I am not really talking about religion. southernyankeebelle May 2013 #12

I agree with your views 100% byeya May 2013 #48

thank you. Your really really smart. LOL southernyankeebelle May 2013 #50

I don't see anywhere in the article KatyMan May 2013 #35

No. I was talking in general terms. Not just religious people. southernyankeebelle May 2013 #38

Um the story doesn't say she immigrated or is a foreigner FreeState May 2013 #40

I am talking in general. A few comments ago. I don't care where she was born. All southernyankeebelle May 2013 #47

I understand your point, but there's a little more to the story than that, I think. antigone382 May 2013 #61

You make excellent points that I can't disagree with. But saying that you also must southernyankeebelle May 2013 #62

Sure, I think a certain amount of adaptation is inevitable. antigone382 May 2013 #63

Centuries ago, people generally didn't know how to swim, even sailors. dimbear May 2013 #2

You'd be surprised how many people can't swim in the US today Fumesucker May 2013 #4

i never learned and i'm from so cal JI7 May 2013 #6

That's why everyone should have swimming lessons. Dash87 May 2013 #17

I don't swim and will never learn. Skidmore May 2013 #22

article states she could already swim. n/t KatyMan May 2013 #36

I'd like to see the decision. rug May 2013 #5

it was based on integration of foreigners being more important than religious beliefs JI7 May 2013 #7

I'd still like to see it. rug May 2013 #13

how is it a public safety issue ? JI7 May 2013 #14

The state may consider the ability to swim to be basic. rug May 2013 #16

yes, that would be the point of having the lessons itself but the court ruled JI7 May 2013 #20

Here's a translation by your state.gov: Call Me Wesley May 2013 #27

Danke mein Freund. rug May 2013 #28

Gern geschehen! Call Me Wesley May 2013 #29

I wonder how this case would come out in the United States. Jim Lane May 2013 #9

that's because the US culture is much more religious and you see exceptions made JI7 May 2013 #15

There was US case law to the effect that treestar May 2013 #19

There is U.S. case law (and statutory law) both ways. Jim Lane May 2013 #32

That's within the church itself; nothing the government is doing treestar May 2013 #33

Your distinction doesn't hold water. Jim Lane May 2013 #42

True, but discrimination is a civil rather than criminal matter treestar May 2013 #43

Jesus christ on a dodge ball joint fundies are stupid... snooper2 May 2013 #11

So, what are they going to do if she refuses? Imprison her? Banish her to Arizona? Tierra_y_Libertad May 2013 #18

she wont complete her school requirements to move on to the next level JI7 May 2013 #21

I would think an accomodation could be reached allowing her to take private lessons. Tierra_y_Libertad May 2013 #23

no, integration is more important than religious beliefs JI7 May 2013 #25

hey, let's accomodate all fundamentalists. Say, some kid's family cali May 2013 #30

I don't think you understand multiculturalism jessie04 May 2013 #44

Nope. Call Me Wesley May 2013 #31

Mid 'seventies, USA. Our high school implemented co-ed swimming classes. hunter May 2013 #24

This sort of thing seems to pop up regularly in Europe War Horse May 2013 #26

Good. nt Demo_Chris May 2013 #34

In a land with so many lakes, it would be wise to learn how to swim. smirkymonkey May 2013 #37

There is religious freedom, then the REAL WORLD. N/t alp227 May 2013 #39

If you live in Europe, you ought to be tolerant of secular values. tritsofme May 2013 #41

I guess I will never understand burnodo May 2013 #45

Near as I can see leftynyc May 2013 #46

I tend to agree with that burnodo May 2013 #52

That is complicated leftynyc May 2013 #53

Roman Catholic woman have to (had to?) cover their hair while at mass. A hat or scarf would do. byeya May 2013 #49

Fifty years ago it was considered a sign of respect for the seriousness of the occasion; pnwmom May 2013 #54

A lot of fundy Muslim men are really into Ninjas snooper2 May 2013 #51

I guess I'm the only one who finds anything wrong with this. Nine May 2013 #55

Well The Straight Story May 2013 #56

You're proving my point for me. Nine May 2013 #57

Well, one point I do understand: The Straight Story May 2013 #58

Integration, not education Nine May 2013 #59

“parallel societies” The Straight Story May 2013 #60