Ahmed is back on his feet
When migration goes wrong and what can be done about it
by Alain Pichard,* Switzerland
(2 May 2025) Muslim fathers refusing to shake hands with female teachers hardly attracts any public attention anymore. And that’s a good thing! Firstly, the vast majority of Muslims in Switzerland have no problem whatsoever with what we consider to be a simple greeting ritual. Secondly, debates about handshakes usually lead to fruitless discussions about symbols, which distract us from the serious issues at hand.