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Court rules Muslim girl must take swim class
Published: 29 Sep 12 09:11 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20120929-45261.html
A German court on Friday refused to allow a Muslim student to skip swimming lessons after she said she was uncomfortable being so close to bare-chested boys.
- Interior minister rules out blasphemy law - Society (23 Sep 12)
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She filed to be given the right to skip the classes, her lawyer arguing that according to the Koran, she was not only forbidden from showing herself to boys but also from seeing boys topless.
An administrative court in Kassel, near Frankfurt, rejected her application.
It said in its ruling that she could wear the full-body swimsuit, known as the "burkini" already used by several girls at her school, which would be enough to guarantee her religious freedom.
The court added that the family had chosen to live in Germany where mixed swimming classes were the norm.
One of the aims of the school system was to promote integration and tolerance, the court added, citing a ruling by Germany's constitutional court.
The applicant would have to put up with the sight of her classmates in their swimming costumes, the court said.
AFP/mw
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Your comments about this article:
this is BS ! there is no such thing in the Quran....... people will tray to get away with anything by claiming religion freedom .... I suspect the poor girl just can't swim and made up that ridiculous excuse ... her parent, instead of trying to find why she really want to skip the swim class they went along with her.
good for the court !
But you don't have the freedom of choice to skip swim class...
this should serve as an eye opener to people who try to bringing religion into every sphere of life.
First thing to teach in schools
Religions are for us and we are not born for the religion.
Luckily we did not have such classes in my schools. I KNOW I would have felt the same way as her. I'm sure a lot of kids do.
Oh, and, we're in Germany. The Koran is as legally binding here as, say, Asterix and the Vikings.
Why should anyone be forced to take swimming lessons in the first place?
I understand requiring children to take some sort of physical activities but why not have a menu?
After all, most other team sports are sex segregated for all children.
" she doesnt want to be like everyone else. the athourities should respect that.."
Yes, yes I totally agree. I don't like being poor like everyone else in my neighborhood, so the athourities should let me print my own money and respect that.
@ 17:18 September 29, 2012 by marimay
"no one should be forced into a situation they are uncomfortable with. This is just a spiteful ruling. "
How true, I am being forced into a situation I am uncomfortable with, being ¦quot;Sharia- compliant¦quot;, the EU authorities are just being spiteful.
scar-casm
noun
the use of irony to mock or convey contempt
You have to see that muslims are the new jews now a days. It is cool to push them down under. The "civilized world" sees it as a duty. Integration should be stressed upon BUT u have to see that east and west have totally opposite customs, cultural and religious values.... good and bad ones. Turks and arabs in germany should adopt the local customs but not at the cost of loosing their identity.... there are alot of germans living permanently in UAE and saudi arabia as professionals etc... du u ever see them wearing hijab and abstaining form alchohol?.... NO u wont see that.
The only reason why the west gets to impose it's values cos it is in the position to do so. if (God forbid) arabs controlled the world's economy, owned major media houses etc....... the conversation here would have been different.
lastly, I cant imagine what kind of delusions make people say things like "love it or leave it" ............. does it makes sense to bring foreigner unskilled labor into your country, have your way with them and afterwards when u dont need them tell them to 'k off. why weren't integration related concerns no an issue when germany was in need of man power........ why didn't you bring your beloved americans to work in your factories? what was so special with Achmet's illiterate family?
So, if swimming lessons are mandatory, this young lady would not be in breach of her religion's rules - but she is in breach of them by choosing to live in Germany.
This is not oppression - this is a family trying to use their religion to weasel their kid out of doing something, and being told clearly and decisively "forget it. You came here, you abide by our law - we don't abide by yours."
and Pakistani - if the law says, whatever the law says, I will condone it. That's what the law is there for. To be followed.
As far as the girl wanting to skip swim class...I've seen just almost as much skin walking down the streets on a hot day as she would see in swim class. I suppose she'll have to stay inside and have no contact with the outside world. Wait, that's the whole point, eh?
Why can't you go back to your country? Oh ya, they didn't want them either.
@ Pakistani - I have to concur with Herr Ed. They need to get their kid to a muslim school so their rights are followed. We should not be conforming to your religion, you need to follow the law or find a country more conforming to your needs, like Sweden.
meanwhile, back in saudi arabia...
'Ikea 'erases' women from Saudi catalogue'
http://www.thelocal.se/43540/20121001/
@Wrinkled38 : not the answer for the question that I asked.... would women in your family adopt hijab if they were working within the UAE eg.... NO! cos u think your values are superior......
@Herr Ed : keep syaing that. you do know that your children would reap the fruit of your attitude towards muslims in germany..... muslims are here to stay........... being a smart ass, dont you think it is better to some to a mutual compromise........ (I know what you would say next.... plz dont)
@sqwimpy
..... I would oppose a "muslim" school in germany (in the sense that you implied it to be)....... you cannot have a "muslim" school here in germany...... mosques in germany are not allowed to even make the call for prayer.......... BUT in Pakistan (what u regard as u know what kind of coutnry) you DO hear church bells every where.......... unbeleiveable????????? must be........ u are suckerz to you your media........... live in your delusion.......... good bye peace.... lets call ourselves "arians", arabs and persians...........
do you think yours,mine and any other random immigrant 's children would co-exist peacefully............ or would be like arabs and jews ................. we should make a difference
lastly. "your" countries will keep importing immigrants till they get self sufficient in "man"-power....................... row some marbles to admit that would you?