A Muslim couple denied citizenship for refusing a handshake

A committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, refused to grant citizenship to a Muslim couple after they rejected a handshake and refused to answer questions asked from people of the opposite sex, says Agence France-Press.

«We found out that they were not integrated in the Swiss society», said Gregory Junod, mayor of the city located near the Geneva Lake. «When we require to be citizens of a certain country, we must comply with its laws and gender equality», he added.

The couple, whose citizenship was not revealed, attended a hearing in the spring, but the decision was made public on Friday, 17th of August. According to members of the Swiss naturalization committee, the man and his wife refused to shake hands with people of the opposite sex and did not want to answer questions asked by men and women.

Vice-Mayor Pierre-Antoine Hildbrand, who was among the three members present at the hearing, said he was «very satisfied with this decision». «I very convinced of this decision. The Constitution and equality between men and women outweigh bigotry», he said. They still have 30 days to appeal, said the mayor.