M&S tells Muslim staff they CAN refuse to serve customers buying alcohol or pork (england)

dailymail.co.uk ^ | december 22, 2013 | sophie jane adams

[lowbridge]

Marks & Spencer has told Muslim staff they can refuse to serve shoppers buying alcohol or pork, it has been revealed. 

The chain has granted checkout workers in more than 700 stores permission to politely decline to serve customers for religious reasons. 

Instead, shoppers are being asked to wait to pay for certain items at a different till.

The policy highlights a divide among the mainstream food retailers over whether religious staff should be excused from certain tasks.

In contrast to M&S, Sainsbury's has told Muslim staff that there is no reason why they cannot handle goods such as alcohol and pork - even if they are not allowed to eat or drink the products.

[the scotsman]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2528388/Not-just-u-turn-M-amp-S-u-turn-Now-chain-apologises-Muslim-check-girl-refused-sell-alcohol-customer.html

[Ready4Freddy]

Seems to be some confooshun on just what M&S’ policy is:

UK retailer M&S faces boycott after Muslim worker refused to sell alcohol

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/23/22021111-uk-retailer-ms-faces-boycott-after-muslim-worker-refused-to-sell-alcohol?lite

“A spokeswoman said the company’s policy for many years had been to try to accommodate staff of all religions by finding them roles where conflicts would not arise.

“On this occasion this person’s preferences were not taken into account and she ended up on the tills, which was a mistake,” the spokeswoman said. “We would like to apologize for any resulting confusion and reassure our customers that this was an isolated incident.”

[Mad Dawgg]

"Instead, shoppers are being asked to wait to pay for certain items at a different till."

or I could leave and go somewhere else.

[Mad Dawgg]

"The $64,000 question is: can muslims refuse to serve gay customers??"

I can see liberal heads exploding when they ponder such...

[VideoDoctor]

After one reads this story you have to ask yourself if Muslims can refuse to handle or serve customers regarding port and alcohol then WHY is it NOT legitimate and LEGAL for a baker in Colorado to refuse to make a wedding cake for gays?