GENEVA, April, 6, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Three Muslim families were denied the Swiss citizenship, despite meeting all conditions, under claims of being “less integrated” into the society, in a step seen as counter to efforts aimed at integrating immigrants into the Swiss society.

Despite meeting all necessary requirements, the Rhinak city in the eastern province of St. Gallen, refused to give citizenship to three Muslim families, hailing from Bosnia, on the grounds that they are “less integrated into society and unaccustomed to the Swiss civil life”.

The three Muslim families, whose children are studying at Swiss schools, have been living in Switzerland for almost 20 years.

According to Swiss law, an immigrant is entitled to obtain citizenship after settling in the country for 12 years, provided that he did not commit criminal acts or financial irregularities.

Swiss laws also stipulate that immigrant children, born in the European country, have no right to obtain immediate citizenship, unlike other European countries, which grant citizenship to the children born on their soil.

The decision to deny the Muslim families citizenship was taken by 127-107 vote in the 234-member citizenship-granting committee of Rhinak city.

The committee decision drew fire from the Muslim minority in the country, demanding more explicit explanations for denying citizenship.

“How come the committee claims that I’m not integrated into the society while I was born here, speak the language, regularly attend school and have never been in trouble with my Swiss colleagues,” charged Murad, 16, a member of Khalil Soka’s family, one of the families denied citizenship.

The Muslim husband is working as a technician at a factory in the city while his wife is a nurse. They say have never been involved in trouble, either at work or with their neighbors since they immigrated to the country.

“Such a decision makes us doubt Swiss claims on the religious freedom in the county,” Murad’s colleague told IslamOnline.net Tuesday, April 5.

Another Swiss fellow stressed that it was not accidental that all families denied the Swiss citizenship were Muslims.

The family of Mohamadi Darwish, another one denied citizenship, has also been living in the European country for 15 years and never committed legal violations.

“We enjoy very good relations with our neighbors,” the wife told IOL, stressing that the committee decision has shocked all her neighbors as well as the whole family.

Neighbors of the Muslim family have also showed shock at the committee’s decision.

“I feel shame about the committee decision. The Darwish family has taken several human gestures toward the disabled and the elderly in the area,” one neighbor of the family told IOL.

“The committee has ignored such positive traits which mark the Muslim people as a whole,” she said.

The neighbors also stressed the Muslim families also abide by Swiss laws and give an example of respect for the traditions of the society.

The committee decision brings to mind a similar stance by the municipality of Emmen, central Switzerland. It also rejected citizenship applications by immigrants from the Balkans as a punishment for an attack by a Serb national against a municipality employee and for another assault against a Swiss teacher.

Swiss human rights groups had been pressing for amending citizenship laws, but the demands hit a dead end due to stern efforts by rightist groups, that argue such amendments would allow large numbers of Muslims to become citizens, according to IOL Correspondent.

Applicants for Swiss citizenship have to be first approved by a local committee. It is also required that applicants have to pass an exam of language and geography.

They are also put under supervision to monitor their relations with their neighbors before the local committee forwards a report to a higher federal body to decide on granting citizenship.

Islam is the second religion in Switzerland after Christianity. The country is home to 330,000 Muslims representing a sizable 4.5 percent of the country’s some eight million people.