No time yet for serenity, even for a Brestoise #18

Artist: Zach Johnsen, Stressed 3, 2009.

It is reported that in Sweden, a judge with the support of the ombudsman admitted last month that religious belief prevails on equality between man and woman.

"More than four years ago, Alen Malik Crnalic entered a course with the Swedish Public Employment Centre (Arbetsförmedlingen, af) in order to find a job. In May 2006, he was on an interview in Älmhult for a trainee job as a welder, and during that interview, he refused to shake hands with the ceo of the company. The ceo happened to be a woman, and as an active Muslim, Alen Malik Crnalic says he's not allowed to touch women outside his own family. Apparently, he also avoided eye-contact with the ceo during the interview, and rather stared to the ground."

"It should probably not come as a surprise that Alen Malik Crnalic didn't get the job. According to the company and the Public Employment Centre, he wasn't qualified for the job. Later he also lost his employment benefits. Alen Malik Crnalic didn't agree with that, and instead appealed the decision to the National Labour Market Board ('djihad-litigation practice'). The Board rejected his appeal, but then it was picked up by the 'Ombudsman for Discrimination' (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen, do), and brought to court. There, the judge overruled the National Labour Market Board's decision, and awarded the man a 6,000 euro compensation. According to the judge, the claim by the man that he cannot shake hands with a woman because of religious reasons is valid."

"The 'Ombudsman for Discrimination' Katri Linna on her side welcomed the court's decision. In a comment, she said that it is unreasonable to cancel somebody's unemployment benefits simply because he refuses to shake hands with a woman in accordance to his religion and beliefs. According to her, Sweden is a multicultural country now, and has to accept that people have different ways to greet other people."

As there was no appeal from the State against that decision, we will never know whether the Swedish Supreme Court and/or the European Court of Human Rights share the reasoning. We will have to wait for an another maniac of God and for an another case of law so that Supreme judges have the opportunity to recall good sense and to make clear that there is no fake excuse for allowing the end of equality of genders.

In the meantime, conservative political parties may win one or two governments in Sweden and may spread more conveniently their approximations and exaggerations on muslims and coran in Europe.

French article reported in Courrier International is here.

Original Swedish article is here.

"L'homme n'est ni ange, ni bête, et le malheur veut que qui veut faire l'ange fait la bête."(Pascal, Pensées, fragment 572).