The provincial court of the European country of Germany has decided to deny citizenship to a Muslim doctor of Lebanese origin as a punishment for not shaking hands with a non-mahram woman.
According to the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), the court in the German province of Barton-Wurttemberg ruled on the request of a 40-year-old doctor of Lebanese origin on October 17.
Although the court did not clearly say that a Muslim doctor of Lebanese origin should not be given German citizenship, the court said that the said person should not be given citizenship because he did not shake hands with a woman.
The petition was filed in the aforementioned court by a doctor of Lebanese origin, who was denied citizenship by a court in the city of Stuttgart, the capital of Barton Wittenberg in 2015.
The Stuttgart court refused to grant citizenship to the Muslim doctor as punishment for not touching the woman, on which he appealed to the provincial court, but the provincial court also supported the civil court’s decision.
The Muslim doctor of Lebanese origin told the court that because of his religion, he does not shake hands not only with women but also with men, however, the court refused to accept his remarks.
The said man also told the court that he was already married and he had promised his wife that he would not touch any illegitimate woman.
The said doctor started working there after completing his medical education in Germany and applied for German citizenship in 2012.
The said person had also fulfilled all the other requirements for obtaining German citizenship and had also passed the naturalization test with good marks, including staying away from extremism.
However, in 2015, when a female officer was giving him the certificate of German citizenship during a ceremony, he refused to shake hands with the unmarried woman.
The woman who gave the certificate had refused to give the certificate to the doctor of Lebanese origin due to not shaking hands, on which the said person approached the court but the civil court ruled against him
After the civil court ruled against him, the said person approached the provincial court, but the provincial court also ruled against him.
At the same time, the provincial court told the said person that he can approach the federal court against the court decision.
The provincial court ruled against a man who refused to shake hands with an unmarried woman, saying that shaking hands is a German culture and the purpose of the act is also to consent between the two parties.
The court said that the act of shaking hands has nothing to do with the gender of any person, it also shows the willingness to fulfill legal and moral obligations.
It is believed that the mentioned person will now refer to the Federal Court of Germany, but it is likely that his request will be rejected, because in many European countries, including Germany, he is prohibited from shaking hands with an unmarried woman. Lagna is also not considered defective.
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**Interview with Dr. Hasan Alami, a Lebanese-born Muslim doctor denied German citizenship**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Alami. Can you briefly share your experience and the events leading up to the court’s decision regarding your citizenship application?
**Dr. Alami:** Thank you for having me. I moved to Germany many years ago to pursue my medical education and have been practicing as a doctor ever since. In 2012, I applied for German citizenship after fulfilling all the requirements, including the naturalization test, which I passed with good marks. However, in 2015, my application was denied because I did not shake hands with a female colleague during a professional interaction.
**Interviewer:** The court’s ruling seems to have caused quite a stir. How did they justify their decision based on your adherence to your religious beliefs?
**Dr. Alami:** The court stated that my refusal to shake hands with a woman warranted the denial of citizenship. Although I explained that my beliefs prevent me from shaking hands with anyone—both men and women—as a promise to my wife, they dismissed my comments. They viewed my actions as indicative of a lack of integration into German society.
**Interviewer:** How do you feel about the court’s interpretation of your actions and the message it sends regarding religious and cultural practices?
**Dr. Alami:** It’s deeply concerning. The court’s ruling suggests that adherence to one’s religious beliefs can be grounds for exclusion from society. I believe it’s vital for a multicultural society to respect and accommodate different practices while also finding common ground. My intention was never to offend but to adhere to my faith.
**Interviewer:** What impact has the ruling had on your professional life and aspirations in Germany?
**Dr. Alami:** The ruling has placed significant stress on my professional and personal life. As a committed doctor who’s contributed to the healthcare system here, being denied citizenship feels like a rejection of my identity and contributions. It creates uncertainty not only for my future but also for my family.
**Interviewer:** What are your next steps following this decision?
**Dr. Alami:** I plan to appeal this decision. I’m determined to fight for my rights and to challenge this precedent. It’s essential to raise awareness about the importance of religious freedom and cultural diversity in Germany and beyond.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your story, Dr. Alami. We wish you strength in your appeals process and hope for a positive outcome.
**Dr. Alami:** Thank you for your support and for bringing attention to this important issue.
