Swedish Court Allows Religious Objectors To Opt Out of High School Dance Instruction

In Sweden, the Administrative Court of Appeal (Kammarrätt) has ruled in favor of a family which on the basis of their Laestadian religious beliefs object to the dance component in their daughters' physical education course. Laestadianism is a conservative Lutheran movement.  As reported by The Local earlier this week, Swedish education law provides that schools should develop their program to permit students to participate regardless of their religious beliefs. Under the court's decision, the family can now opt out of the otherwise mandatory part of the physical education course.