A student wearing a hijab refused to shake the German President’s hand – two weeks after Chancellor Angela Merkel proposed burqa ban.
An excruciating video clip shows the moment President Joachim Gauck was left red-faced by a young female during an official visit to a school.
It shows him arriving at the school in his official car with students waiting for him at the entrance and holding up welcome signs in a variety of languages including German and Arabic.
He had chosen to visit the school after it was singled out as being an example of how they successfully help migrant children learn the German language and culture.
Mr Gauck was then introduced to a line up of students and as he went down the line, he proceeded to shake hands with every one of them.
But when the president, who largely has a ceremonial role in Germany, reached the girl in a hijab in the line-up she quickly moved her hand away.
She then placed it over her chest and bowed her head as Mr Gauck held out his hand for her.
But realising she was not going to greet him like the other students, the pair just exchanged smiles and he quickly moved on to the next student.
However, it is not the first time Muslims have refused to shake hands with members of the opposite sex in Germany.
In July, a Muslim pupil refused to shake the hand of his female teacher on ‘religious grounds.’
As the teacher at the Kurt-Tucholsky School in Hamburg went to shake the hand of the student he offered his wrist instead.
Apparently, seconds later, he told her; ‘No offence, my religion won’t let me do that. I do not mean to disrespect you.’
But fellow teachers were outraged and demanded he be sent home from the event, a move the head teacher refused.