Tech & Rights

Dutch Parliament: Muslim Women Should Shake Hands

The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights has judged that the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) should not have rejected a Muslim woman's job application because she refused to give men...

by Nederlands Juristen Comité voor de Mensenrechten
(Image: Tess Dixon)

The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights has judged that the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) should not have rejected a Muslim woman's job application because she refused to give men handshakes. The Institute states that it is discrimination based on religion. The majority of the Dutch Parliament believes that the judgment, which is not binding, should be disregarded. Malik Azmani, a member of the VVD (Liberals), said, "I do not think that the judgment corresponds to common manners in the Netherlands. It sends the wrong signal to people who come to our country."

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