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Airline bans Bibles to avoid offending Muslims
WorldNet Daily ^ | January 9, 2006

Posted on 01/10/2006 12:40:42 AM PST by Stoat

Airline bans Bibles to avoid offending Muslims
Carrier to Saudi Arabia also precluding crucifixes, teddy bears

Posted: January 9, 2006
11:20 p.m. Eastern

 


© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

A British airline banned its staff from taking Bibles and wearing crucifixes or St. Christopher medals on flights to Saudi Arabia to avoid offend the country's Muslims.

British Midland International also has told female flight attendants they must walk two paces behind male colleagues and cover themselves from head to foot in a headscarf and robe known as an abaya, the Mirror newspaper of London reported.

Teddy bears or other cuddly toys also are not allowed.

Airline officials, who have sparked outrage, the paper says, explain the Islamic kingdom's strict laws – enforced by religious police – prohibit public practice of Christianity and figures of animals.

BMI spokesman Phil Shepherd said: "In providing air services people want, demand and use, we have an obligation to respect the customs of the destination country."

An airline employee who asked not to be named told the Mirror: "It's outrageous that we must respect their beliefs but they're not prepared to respect ours."

The employee said his grandmother gave him a crucifix shortly before she died that he wears at all times.

"It's got massive sentimental value and I don't see why I have to remove it," he said.

The airline's staff handbook says: "Prior to disembarking the aircraft all female crew will be required to put on their company issued abaya. It will be issued with the headscarf which must be worn."

The employees' union wants staff members to be able to opt out of the flights, but the airline says the only option is to transfer from overseas staff to domestic flights, which could mean a loss of about $30,000 a year in wages.

About 40 staff members have filed complaints since the route began in September.

Some of the male members who are homosexual have called in sick, because they are afraid of traveling to Saudi Arabia, where homosexual activity is punishable by flogging, jail or death.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: airlines; christianity; dhimmi; islam; moslemsareidiots; moslemssuck; muslims; religionofpeace; religionoftolerance; trop
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I don't hear of anybody being concerned about offending ME......
1 posted on 01/10/2006 12:40:44 AM PST by Stoat
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To: Stoat

This one is easy. EVERYONE should stop using this airline. Problem solved.


2 posted on 01/10/2006 12:42:46 AM PST by Kozak (Anti Shahada: " There is no God named Allah, and Muhammed is his False Prophet")
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To: Stoat

When's the world finally going to tell the stupid Moos to just blow it out their a$$?


3 posted on 01/10/2006 12:44:15 AM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: Hank Rearden

I'm going to puke!


4 posted on 01/10/2006 12:45:17 AM PST by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: ncountylee

<<<<handing you a Bible, a stylish and fashonable barf bucket and a ticket on a DIFFERENT AIRLINE.


5 posted on 01/10/2006 12:46:55 AM PST by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: ncountylee

"I'm going to puke!"

Fill a bucket half full or water and a half cup of bleach.

It'll help but not solve the problem.

The solution is to boycott all Arab countries. Do your business with conference calls and tell your Arab business associates that you won't visit their countries until the take a mega dose of the chill pill.


6 posted on 01/10/2006 12:52:01 AM PST by beaver fever
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To: Stoat
The airline's staff handbook says: "Prior to disembarking the aircraft all female crew will be required to put on their company issued abaya. It will be issued with the headscarf which must be worn."

It sounds like the female flight attendants are only required to put on their veils while on the ground in Saudi Arabia. Perhaps the no-crucifix and other rules are only in Saudi Arabia, too. If veil wearing is required and crucifixes aren't allowed to be worn by Saudi law, there's not much an airline can do other than not fly to Saudi Arabia (or fly the plane right back home with the same flight attendants). It's better for the flight attendants to abide by Saudi law than end up being arrested by the religious police.

If these rules apply while in-flight, they are stupid.
7 posted on 01/10/2006 12:52:52 AM PST by conservative in nyc
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To: Stoat

Why don't they just change the company name to "Air Dhimmi" and be done with it?


8 posted on 01/10/2006 12:55:48 AM PST by Bogolyubski
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To: Bogolyubski
Why don't they just change the company name to "Air Dhimmi" and be done with it?

So far I haven't seen any evidence of common sense on the part of this airline and so your logical and commonsense suggestion would most likely fall upon deaf ears.

9 posted on 01/10/2006 12:58:26 AM PST by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat

Original article, from the UK Sunday Mirror:
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16559713&method=full&siteid=62484&headline=british-madland-name_page.html


10 posted on 01/10/2006 1:06:54 AM PST by conservative in nyc
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To: conservative in nyc

Thanks very much! Hopefully their stupidity will drive them out of business, but in the meantime they have sent a very clear message, once again, of weakness to the Islamofascists.


11 posted on 01/10/2006 1:11:57 AM PST by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat
I'll say it, "Fukc Them"

I am so fed up with this crap it makes me want to puke. I'll just stay home and ride my motrocycles , drive my Beemers, and fish on Lake James. The rest of this pathetic planet can just go to hell since no one has an opinion and guts to stand up to these a$$holes.

12 posted on 01/10/2006 1:13:44 AM PST by Cobra64
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To: ncountylee
I'm going to puke!

I'd suggest that you and I could start a consortium and make a lot of money.

13 posted on 01/10/2006 1:16:06 AM PST by Cobra64
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To: Stoat
I don't hear of anybody being concerned about offending ME......

How old are you?

14 posted on 01/10/2006 1:20:43 AM PST by Cobra64
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To: Cobra64

Old enough to know that when I make a statement bemoaning the fact that nobody's worried about offending me that it's made with zero expectation of any change in the current muslim-butt-kissing state of affairs and was only expressed in a purely rhetorical sense.


15 posted on 01/10/2006 1:50:21 AM PST by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat
Muslims = intolerant.
16 posted on 01/10/2006 1:59:26 AM PST by Echo Talon
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To: Stoat

Does anyone know how more established western airlines flying into Saudi deal with these issues?


17 posted on 01/10/2006 2:05:04 AM PST by Killing Time
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To: Stoat
I don't hear of anybody being concerned about offending ME......

How much oil do you have?

18 posted on 01/10/2006 2:06:05 AM PST by coconutt2000 (NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace))
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To: Stoat

Karl Rove needs to steer the Bird Flu to Saudi Arabia ASAP!


19 posted on 01/10/2006 2:24:00 AM PST by Solamente
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To: Stoat

Dude when you're filthy rich and your house is built over some major texas tea THEN someone will care to kiss your butt. Until then, no soup for you. Take your shoes off like everyone else!


20 posted on 01/10/2006 2:27:47 AM PST by cyborg
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