A Swedish Muslim woman has been awarded compensation after claiming a job interview was ended abruptly when she declined to shake hands with a male interviewer.

A labour court ordered a translation company to pay Farah Alhajeh, 24, the sum of 40,000 kronor (£3420).

Rather than shake a man’s hand, she said she smiled and placed her hand on her heart while explaining her religious objection to physical.

She told the New York Times she was then shown to the lift.

“It was like a punch in the face,” she said. “It was the first time someone reacted, and it was a really harsh reaction.”