January,10,2017:

Muslim parents in Switzerland not allowed to refuse to send their daughters to mixed school-run swimming lessons.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled, in response to a challenge by a Turkish-Swiss couple who argued that classes violated their beliefs.

Europe’s rights top court accepted that refusal by the authorities to exempt Muslim girls from the lessons interfered with their freedom of Religion, instead, this interference, it said, was justified by the need to protect children from social exclusion.

The court ruled that school plays “a special role in process of social integration, especially where children of foreign origin were concerned."

It added that swimming lessons aren't just to learn swimming, but to take part in the activity with all other pupils.

Turkish-Swiss couple who brought the case argued that forcing their pre-pubescent daughters to attend these classes will lead to violation of their faith.

The court found that the authorities had tried to accommodate these parents’ beliefs by, allowing the girls to wear the “burkini” (full body  swimsuit).

The court also told that the fine of 1400 Swiss francs imposed on the couple in 2010 after a warning was “proportionate to aim pursued” of getting them to comply with the regulation.

All their appeals were rejected by the Swiss Courts.

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