“Stewardess ‘banned from taking bible on plane’”
An air stewardess is claiming religious discrimination against an airline which she says banned her from taking the Bible to Saudi Arabia.
The stewardess has been told by BMI that it is against the law of the insular Middle Eastern country to bring in religious books other than the Koran.
The woman, who is understood to be a committed Christian, takes her bible everywhere she goes and is now set to take the airline to an industrial tribunal claiming discrimination on religious grounds.
BMI, formerly British Midland Airways, said today it was merely following the Foreign Office advice that no non-Islamic materials or artefacts are allowed into the country.
A spokesman from the airline said: “We issue advice to all our staff and passengers that these are the guidelines.
I don’t know if this is a clear cut case of religious discrimination, at least by the airline. I think they’re trying to obey the laws of the country in which they’re operating. If there’s an objection it should be against Saudi Arabia’s religious persecution of non-Islamic people, including Christians.
Of course, I do wonder how the airline is supposed to know if the stewardess (the Brits are so un-PC sometimes) has her personal Bible on her. Are they checking the passengers’ and crews’ luggage for contraband religious material? Or is the stewardess making a spectacle over this?
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