British airline bans Bibles aboard planes to avoid offending Muslims

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Comments: 5

London, England, Jan 12, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- A British airline has prohibited its employees from carrying Bibles, using crucifixes or St. Christopher Medals, on flights to Saudi Arabia in order “not to offend” Muslims in that country.

British Midland International has also established that female flight attendants should walk two steps behind their male colleagues and should cover themselves from head to toe with an abaya, a traditional Muslim overgarment, the Mirror newspaper of London reported.

BMI officials explained the decision saying the Islamic kingdom's strict laws – enforced by religious police – prohibit public practice of Christianity and figures of animals.

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 employees' union has proposed staff members 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.

Comments: 5

Subscriber comments:

Published by: John Glasel
Hoboken, NJ, USA 01/24/2006 12:20 PM EST

Is there any truth to the rumor that BMI plans to paint the Star of David on the outside of its planes?

Published by: Wasim Mohammed
UK 01/15/2006 12:38 PM EST

Hi there I am a muslim born and raised in the UK. I think people should be allowed to carry with them their own book of faith. i think also that this kind of decision causes more peoblems and people are making blatantly unwise decisions unaware that it is from these silly little choices that large scale problems start. does that mean, if we are all to be fair that i should be stopped carrying a Koran in the UK because majority are NOT muslims? If not then it is obvious that a wrong decision has been made. To make these kind of decisions shows a clear lack of understanding and a complete fear of any other faith. I personally think that, not only because of me being a Muslim that we all need to have an open mind and tsop trying to get one over on each other. it's a bit like 2 kids fighting and none of them being clever enough to accept that they're differrent. i have very close friends from all religions, races, colours and cultures and would dream of stopping anyone of them from carrying a Bible or the Torah and none of them would ever want to stop me from carrying the Koran.

Published by: Douglas Lamberty
North Platte, NE USA 01/14/2006 03:45 PM EST

I am getting very tired of reading where people have to do this or that so as not to offend Muslims, but they don't do anything about their relegion so as not to offend Christians. The whole world is bending over backward for these people, it's time to say ENOUGH!

Published by: RA Boettcher
Fond du Lac WI USA 01/13/2006 06:02 PM EST

My eyes nearly bugged out when I saw the discrimination and oppression that BMI was willing to put its female employees through in order to make a buck in SA. In addition to the descrimination against Christians this is a complete & cowardly collapse of Western Values. I'm utterly disgusted that political correctness would be taken so far.

Surely Britain or the EU has some sort of protective legislation these people can turn to?

Published by: Sarah Spivey
New Albany, In. USA 01/13/2006 12:13 PM EST

If you forbid displays of Christianity going int Saudi Arabia then you must forbid the abaya, the koran and any other displays of Muslim faith as these are offensive to all Christians & the rest of the world.

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