Woman denied French citizenship for 'refusing to shake official's hand'
Date
4/21/2018 6:40:09 AM
(MENAFN) France's highest administrative court has upheld a decision to deny a French passport to an Algerian Muslim who refused to shake hands with officials during her citizenship ceremony, according to a ruling seen by AFP Thursday.
The woman argued that her religious beliefs prevented her from shaking hands with a senior official presiding over the citizenship ceremony in the southeastern Isere region in June 2016, as well as with a local politician.
"After solemnly handing her the naturalization decree, the secretary-general of the prefecture and a local elected representative extended a hand to her as a sign of welcome. But the woman refused these handshakes by invoking her religious beliefs," an official said.
A government ruling said it showed she was "not assimilated into the French community" and denied her citizenship.
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