Dutch Teacher Fired For Refusing To Shake Men's Hands

In the Netherlands, Vader Rijn College has fired a Muslim teacher for her refusal , on religious grounds, to shake hands with men. The dismissal came even though the country's Equal Treatment Commission had earlier handed down a non-binding ruling advising against the dismissal. Reporting on the incident, yesterday's European Jewish Press said that the school believed the teacher's conduct set a bad example for pupils-- most of whom have Moroccan or Turkish backgrounds. School director Bart Engbers wants a secular learning environment. He said: "Religious and political flag-waving must stay at home."