LONDON: A video showing an imam refusing to shake the hand of a female Norwegian minister has prompted an outcry from Muslim Twitter users.
The video, which was posted on the Twitter feed of Yatafakkaroun magazine shows the imam refusing to shake the minister’s hand and holding his hand to his chest instead after she extends her hand to shake his.
Yatafakkaroun is published by a research organization called Mominoun Without Borders (Believers Without Borders).
Many Muslim Tweeps were angered by the video and criticized the imam’s lack of willingness to integrate into Western society.
إمام مسلم يرفض مصافحة وزيرة نرويجية!
الواقعة أثارت جدلاً واسعاً في الأوساط #اليمينية_الأوروبية، واعتبرها البعض دليلا على عدم قابلية #المسلمين للاندماج بينما اعتبرها البعض #حرية شخصية، ما رأيكم في هذا التصرف؟ @YTFKKRN_Mag pic.twitter.com/DxiM9J6QFZ— مجلة يتفكرون (@YTFKKRN_Mag) July 6, 2018
One Twitter user said that he wondered what the imam was doing in the West if he was not able to “integrate in society” and accept basic mannerisms there.
Another commented that the imam must adhere “to the values, principles, and traditions” of the country that he was living in and that he should “respect its culture and traditions.”
Other Tweeps believed that the imam was right to refuse to shake the minister’s hand according to his religious beliefs and that he was free to do so.
Some Muslims believe that it is forbidden for them to shake hands with the opposite gender if they are not related to them.
