Originally, the handshake is believed to have been used as a gesture of peace by demonstrating that the hand held no weapon. Nowadays it's seen as a sign of respect for the other person. Consequently, to refuse a handshake is seen as disrespectful in many societies and this has been the subject of two recent news items.
The first story took place in Sweden when a Muslim woman was interviewed for a job as an interpreter. At the end of the interview, she refused to shake the hand of the male interviewer and, instead, held her hand over her heart. As a result, she was not considered suitable and decided to take the case to a labour court. The company said that staff were required to treat men and women equally, so refusing a handshake because of gender was unacceptable. The women said that she placed her hand over her heart for both genders, so wasn't discriminating, and it was against her belief to touch a man who wasn't close family. The court ruled in her favour, on a three to two majority, and she received compensation.
The second story took place in Lausanne, Switzerland, where there was a different outcome. A Muslim couple made a claim after being refused Swiss citizenship because the woman had refused to shake the hand of the person interviewing them, saying that her religion didn't permit physical contact with someone of the opposite sex. Because if that, the board felt that she had shown a lack of respect for gender equality and gave the couple a low mark. In court, the council stated that freedom of belief and religion were enshrined in law, but religious practices did not fall outside of the law. The council won the case and the couple weren't given citizenship.
Depending on one's belief, it may be easy to agree or disagree with what is right and what is wrong. For me, though, I try and turn the story around. What would happen if I was in a Muslim country and insisted on shaking hands, or, God forbid, kissing a woman's cheek? The strong probability is that I'd be arrested. Tolerance is not a recognised trait and one should sensibly follow the laws of the country. If that’s so, and if one chooses to visit another country, they should be aware of the culture and accept it - and that includes Muslims visiting the West.
I believe that the Lausanne council was right in refusing citizenship to the Muslim couple as their behaviour would be an obstacle to integration. One may not agree with certain laws or customs, and who can say which are correct, but it’s unwise to flout them. It’s natural for me, with a western upbringing, to shake someone's hand, or kiss them on the cheek, but I wouldn't do so in a country which prohibits it. The important thing is to respect the laws of the land and live in harmony.