Posted on 06/22/2008 6:42:50 PM PDT by forkinsocket
A Muslim asylum seeker lost out on an award for volunteer work after indicating that he would not shake hands with the woman who was to present him with the prize.
Alinoor Ahmed Sheikh, a Somali based in an asylum hostel in Tralee, was to have been honoured for his work raising funds for Amnesty International at a ceremony last Thursday organised by the Africa Centre in Dublin. The event was designed to highlight the positive work done by refugees and asylum seekers in Irish communities.
Five minutes before Benedicta Attoh, a member of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism, was due to present the award she was told not to call out Sheikh’s name. “The judges had decided that someone else should get the award,” said Attoh, chairwoman of the Africa Centre’s board.
Attoh did not find out the reason why until she read in Metro Eireann on Friday that his name had been removed because of his refusal to shake hands with women. Sheikh told the newspaper that he had been assured his request not to shake a female presenter’s hand would be accommodated because it was based on his religious beliefs.
His certificate was presented to Therese Elumelu, who was not present, with Sheikh’s name crossed out.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Middle East.
I’m Israeli now, but I was born in Lebanon. In both places it is not unusual behavior.
Are you middle eastern?
Yes.
I was told, years ago, by our rabbi, that it is OK to shake hands in a business situation (ie job interview) because it is considered a standard business greeting and not a sexual thing. But he said do not offer to shake hands, but take hand that is extended (because otherwise would be insulting)
However lately I see more and more men do not initiate a handshake unless the woman offers her hand first. Business etiquette has changed.
I have worked with different Muslim men and women and have yet to see them refuse to shake hands. Maybe they are fully westernized (I hope so) or maybe they are simply adroit at avoiding situations where it is called for as a matter of courtesy.
Ben - of course, but it’s complicated (adriotness IS often used as well). Think of most major religions and their followers living/practicing in varying “degrees”, peacefully, happily, versus hard-core, word for word, fundamentalists. In the case of Islam, there are maybe only 15% (or so) who are fundamentalists - gee, that’s only about 150-250 million who follow Mohammed’s teachings about killing all infidels and achieving a perfect Islamic world, a Califate, ruled by Sharia law..
9/11/01 only took 19 like that.
I'm not an expert, but I believe if you go back to the social etiquette rules of the 1940's/50's, it was considered "forward" for a man to invite a woman to shake his hand. In a social situation, the woman could choose to offer her hand, and then the man could take it. If the woman did not offer, then nothing happened and there was no awkwardness.
I agree that business etiquette of recent years differed from social etiquette of decades past. Now, with a lot of people gunshy in the workplace, we seem to be going back toward the "do nothing, unless she invites a handshake" mindset.
In Israel, almost everyone I came across waited to see if I would offer my hand too.
In Lebanon, since I was not wearing hijab, Christians & seculars would assume that it was okay to offer their hand. They were surprised when me or someone would tell them “la, haram” & they would look at me quizzically.
“Yahudia.”
“Walla!”
:D
What do you bet a group named the “National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism” will capitulate and grant this guy the award on his terms within a few days?
Muslim’s need to come into the 21st Century. Summer’s Eve has taken care of that.
“I do not know if they will shake hands with these animals even through I have lived in both Iran and Saudi Arabia. “
Oh “a handshake instead of a kiss” (commercial from the late ‘60’s :-)))))
I was in Iran as well and my ex lived/worked in Dubai.
And he was accommodated. I swear these people whine about everything.
A. You must not know what chivalry means.
B. How could you possibly know what Middle Eastern rape statistics are? They aren't tracked and the victims that talk are instantly killed by their own families, lest the word get out.
“Not going so far as to even gaze or look at a female proves, to me, the insanity and illogic of some so-called “religious” strictures.”
It’s not “so-called” - this is very real - again, many (hundreds of millions of people) don’t think as WE do. Learn about it, we’re living with it and it’s growing everyday.
Are you planning to cover your hair after you are married?
Yes, in my community we cover after marriage.
FYI- You can't get pregnant shaking hands, nor even is it normal for anyone to be the slightest bit aroused by a hand shake.
But power to you. I'm always thankful for people who give me clear clues that I should steer clear of them.
By the way, why do you shake hands with close relatives? Aren't you afraid of incest?
“Now, with a lot of people gunshy in the workplace, we seem to be going back toward the “do nothing, unless she invites a handshake” mindset. “
yes, a bit of a shame - fear of lawsuits, not being politically correct, etc.
I DO miss the “old days” of civility, manners and etiquette, however. You know, I think it was Emily Post who explained that manners and etiquette were not complicated, but just about considering the other person’s feelings, making them feel comfortable and at ease.
Makes sense, doesn’t it - how simple, like all truths are.
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