Netherlands: Man moved on flight after Muslim woman request

Islam in Europe ^ | May 25 2008 | De Telegraaf

[knighthawk]

Amsterdam CDA municipal council member Lex van Drooge was recently asked to move to a different seat on a KLM flight from Istanbul to Amsterdam, since the Muslim woman sitting next to him had objections about sitting next to a man.

The council member had been a work-trip to Istanbul together with a group of Amsterdam politicians. He says that at beginning of the trip back he was asked by a stewardess to move elsewhere in the plane. Later it turned out this request was from his original headscarf wearing neighbor.

Van Drooge says that apparently we don't know how to deal with these type of situations, which happily only happen occasionally.

The unusual request by the Muslim woman, who was traveling on her own and who did not say a word to Van Drooge, was not noticed by other passengers. The Amsterdam resident is surprised at how things developed, and has a "slight unpleasant feeling".

He says he naturally called around, and found that Turkish airplane companies haven't heard about different classes for men and women.

A spokesperson for KLM could not confirm the story, and said there is no specific policy regarding such cultural or religious inspired requests. But she says that the crew takes into account special requests of passengers. "If it's possible, than we do that, and if it's not possible, than not."

It's unclear why the woman was not moved to a different place. The KLM spokesperson says that that was also possible.

Source: Telegraaf (Dutch)

[knighthawk]

The funny thing is the CDA is the party behind the arrest of cartoonist Nekschot for his anti-islamic stance...

[knighthawk]

Islam-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[12Gauge687]

Poetic justice coming back to bite him (sorry for the mixed metaphors).

[Ken522]

The guy probably said “hello” to her while he was taking his seat.

[SES1066]

Later it turned out this request was from his original headscarf wearing neighbor.

Sounds to me that said 'headscarf' (female) was experienced in western current PC culture. In today's western world, a request from a woman about a male seatmate will move the male based upon availability and lacking any other context. I'm not saying right or wrong, it is just that the corporate rules try to avoid any and all 'bad outcomes'.

[weegee]

SHE should move to the back of the bus if SHE has problems sitting next to a sub-human kufir infidel man.

[davisfh]

Just one more small step backwards toward the dark ages.

[reformed_dem]

But what would have happened if the man had a problem sitting next to a muslim woman? Would SHE have been moved to accommodate his sensitive feelings?

[Oshkalaboomboom]

So you have a society that moves into your territory, refuses to assimilate and expects you to conform to their values rather than the other way round. Sounds like Mexicans with bomb belts.

[Travis McGee]

How about if a white objects to sitting next to a black?

[rockrr]

If it were to happen to me and I got a better seat/class out of it I would have no objection. Otherwise I would be inclined to tell them to go pound sand...

[xJones]

How about if a white objects to sitting next to a black?

Now THAT would be all wrong, and no one would disagree!

However you surely have the good taste to realize that this is about a Muslim female vs. a white male and so....>

[Travis McGee]

How is it different?

[wideminded]

I have a theory that airlines always try, if possible, not to place unrelated men and women together, for fear of sexual harassment issues.

I'd be interested to know if anyone has any inside information about this.

[Chgogal]

This is good to know. Next time a Muslim man sits next to me on a flight, I will insist that he move to another seat. I refuse to sit next to a male who thinks I am a whore because I allow him to sit next to me! This can work both ways folks!

[Dr. Ursus]

Plus the air will be more pleasant!

[xJones]

How is it different?

Well for instance, in the U.S., the ACLU will take the Muslim woman's side and they wouldn't dream of taking yours.

[VOA]

Van Drooge says that apparently we don't know how to deal with
these type of situations, which happily only happen occasionally.

One decent way:
"NO, I'm not moving unless I hear a really compelling reason for it.
I purchased this particular seat from your online reservation system
and am loath to surrender it for no good reason."

As I once heard, if you keep bending over backwards to accomodate jerks,
two bad things are bound to happen.
1. You'll be a person with a broken back.
2. And you'll be totally surrounded by jerks.

[VOA]

It's unclear why the woman was not moved to a different place.
The KLM spokesperson says that that was also possible.

Not really.
In most business situations, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease"...
especially if their co-congregants have a reputation for sawing
off infidels' heads on the slightest pretext.

[a real Sheila]

Soon they will be moving all the men out of First Class.