An original translation by Nash Montana with Much thanks!
From this German News site:
Montabaur/Mainz — A Muslim police officer from Rhineland-Pfalz has refused to shake the hand of his female colleague for religious reasons. The woman wanted to congratulate him for his promotion. Now he’s facing disciplinary actions.
As the Koblenz Rhein Zeitung reported on Friday, the woman wanted to congratulate him for his promotion at a party at the end of May at the Montabaur police station, which he rejected: “The police officer explained his behavior by way of his religious belief,” said Steffen Wehner, the press spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior, on Friday.
Violation of principle of neutrality
The man has been transferred to office duty. The refusal of the handshake violates the principle of neutrality and principle of moderation (temperance) for officers.
By way of disciplinary investigation, it will now be determined to what extent civil service law provisions were violated, and whether the religious attitude can have an influence on service, the spokesman further said. The consequences of a disciplinary action could lead to dismissal.
Police headquarters can decide on lesser sanctions and reduction of salary. But further sanctions such as revocation of rank or dismissal will have to be decided by the administrative court.