Muslim school kids must swim to be Swiss

From the Swiss edition of The Local

Authorities in Basel have denied two Muslim teenage girls a Swiss passport because they refused to participate in school swimming lessons and residential camps on religious grounds. The case, which occurred last year but was made public by broadcaster SRF on Monday, involved two sisters, aged 12 and 14.

Speaking to the broadcaster, Stefan Wehrle, president of the naturalization committee involved in the decision, said young people wishing to become Swiss citizens must prove they are meeting the requirements of the Swiss education system. Since swimming lessons are compulsory in Basel’s schools – and in many other places in Switzerland including Zurich and Bern – failing to attend means a student is not meeting requirements.

“Whoever doesn’t fulfill these conditions violates the law and therefore cannot be naturalized,” Wehrle said.

The perceived lack of integration of Muslim children in Swiss schools has frequently made headlines of late. Earlier this year two Muslim schoolboys in Therwil refused to shake hands with their female teachers on religious grounds, causing uproar across the country. On Monday SRF said the two girls in the swimming case also refused to shake hands with teachers.