Swiss authorities have denied citizenship to a Muslim couple after they refused to shake hands with people of the opposite sex during their interview, reports the BBC.
Officials confirmed the decision on Friday, further citing the couple’s failure to integrate and respect gender equality, it said.
The couple also struggled to answer questions by members of the opposite sex, added the report.
“The Swiss authorities said aspiring citizens must be well integrated into the Swiss community and demonstrate an attachment to Switzerland, its institutions and a respect for the Swiss legal order,” reads the BBC report.
Officials did not reveal specifics about the couple, but the local media said they were North African and applied in the city of Lausanne.
The couple were not asked about their faith, authorities said, though their religion seemed apparent, local media reported.
This is not the first time refused handshakes have stirred controversy in Switzerland.
In 2016, a Swiss school decided to exempt two Muslim boys from shaking both male and female teachers' hands after they refused to shake hands with a female teacher. The news caused an uproar and led to the family's citizenship process being suspended.
In neighbouring France, an Algerian woman was denied citizenship after refusing to shake the hand of an official during her citizenship ceremony.