A Swedish court rules in favor of a Muslim woman who refused handshake at a job interview

A Swedish court has ruled in favor of a Muslim woman who refused to shake hands with her employer during a job interview, reports Euronews.

The Labor Court found, on August 15th, that the 24-year-old woman, who was working as an interpreter in Uppsala (Southern Sweden), was indirectly discriminated against. The court ordered the company to pay her 40,000 Swedish Kroner (€ 3,829).

«The Labor Court ruled that refusing to shake hands with someone from the opposite sex was a religious act protected by Article 9 from the European Convention on Human Rights», announced the court. It added that the «company’s policy is prejudicial to (…) Muslims».

Instead of a handshake, Islamic tradition would like the woman to lay her hand on her heart for salutation. A custom that the firm did not appreciate, believing that this is contrary to its practices and would create differences and conflicts between colleagues of both sexes.

«It's a sensitive issue and that's why we thought it was important to hold a trial», said Martin Mörk, director of the Ombudsman's Discrimination (OD) processing unit.