The handshake requirement will deter few applicants for citizenship, officials said, but it sends a harsh message to Muslims, and many mayors who conduct citizenship ceremonies said they would find ways to avoid it. “It’s against my ideology and conviction to have to force other people to have body contact,” said Thomas Andresen, the mayor of Aabenraa, near the border with Germany. To circumvent the law, Mr. Andresen said, he could either arrange to have local officials of both genders take part in the ceremonies or have state officials take over. But its mayor of 17 years, Ole Bjorstorp, said he had never met anybody who refused to shake his hand. “My conscience doesn’t allow me to report people on this basis so they won’t become Danish citizens,” he said.

Source: New York Times December 20, 2018 13:02 UTC