Posted on 05/22/2013 5:24:40 AM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
A town in western Sweden has agreed to pay damages to a man who was told he wouldn't be hired if he refused to shake a woman's hand for religious reasons.
The decision by officials in Trollhättan to pay the man 30,000 kronor ($4,500) means the municipality won't have to face a review of the case by Sweden's Equality Ombudsman (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen).
The incident stemmed from an office visit by a man who had been offered an internship with the integration division at Trollhättan municipality.
When the man was set to meet a female supervisor at the office, he refused to shake her hand, explaining his religion forbade him from shaking hands with women unless he washed his hands directly afterwards.
The female supervisor then reportedly told the man that he could not intern at the office if he was not comfortable shaking everybody's hand. She also allegedly added that the office had hand sanitizer that he could use.
While the incident was later reported to the Equality Ombudsman, the national office that investigates suspected cases of discrimination, the case was settled before the ombudsman began its investigation, with Trollhättan municipality choosing to pay damages to the man.
"The intern candidate explained that his religion forbade him from shaking the hand of a woman he did not know," municipal spokesman Said Niklund told the TTELA newspaper.
"By law, a person who feels they've been disadvantaged because of their religion has a right to damages. We made a mistake, we took responsibility for it, and the person was compensated."
The incident has reportedly had repercussions at the workplace, however, damaging the morale among the staff at Trollhättan's integration division. An investigation into the workplace environment is under way.
The leader of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats said on Saturday the party planned to report the municipality to the Ombudsman for Justice (Justitieombudsmannen, JO), stating that "equality is more important than multiculturalism".
"This case is extremely upsetting... it is absurd and makes a mockery of equality and Swedish values," party leader Jimmie Åkesson said in a statement.
I thought you are supposed to kiss women in Europe.
Methodist?
What’s the man’s name? What is the religion? These are questions we must have answers to.
WE probably know that answer.
Or pinch their behinds?
Only $4,500!, well heck, he should have received everything, all 50 million plus slavery to the staff, for such an offense!
sarcasm off/
Sounds like an area of the Upper West side comprised of liberals who like to invade Free Republic.
Why couldn’t he just get along by marrying this woman (”You are my Wife, You are my Wife, You are my Wife”), shake her hand, and then... immediately after hand disconnection, say “I Divorce You, I Divorce You, I Divorce You”.
Trollhättan?
I am SO pissed off !!!
They wipe their ass with their left hand and give the host nation the salute with the right middle finger.
phuque THEM !!!
His name is mohammed bin jihad bin allahackbar. His religion is demon worship.
Just as I expected.
Pastafarian!
I'd take the job just to get the wooden desk plaque with that on it.
Fascinating. Thank you.
Looks like Sweden is ahead of the other nations of western and central Europe in their race to the bottom of the toilet.
WWTVD
What would the Vikings do?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.