BMI told stewardess to wear Muslim robe

[cali]

A BRITISH air stewardess was sacked for refusing to fly to Saudi Arabia after she was ordered to wear a traditional Islamic robe and walk behind male colleagues.

Lisa Ashton, a £15,000-a-year stewardess with BMI, was told that in public areas in Saudi Arabia she was required to wear a black robe, known as an abaya. This covers everything but the face, feet and hands. She was told to follow her male colleagues, irrespective of rank.

Ashton, 37, who was worried about security in the country, refused to fly there, claiming the instructions were discriminatory. She was sacked last April.

“It’s not the law that you have to walk behind men in Saudi Arabia, or that you have to wear an abaya, and I’m not going to be treated as a second-class citizen,” Ashton said last week.

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6169989.ece

[Taverner]

1. Good! When people have stupid beliefs, they need to be called on it

And you know my stance...all religions have stupid beliefs.

[Vidar]

2. Shame on BMI. Good for Ms. Ashton.

[dustbunnie]

3. I like this woman's attitude. Good for her.

[LeftyMom]

4. Good for her.

[burning rain]

5. Proud of her.

Damn tired of this pandering to religious primitivism.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Not clear if it was this year or last year

The UK unemployment compensation system decisions tent to be all over the map, but have ofter supported muslims when they claimed discrimination. Wonder what they will do here to BMI.

[depakid]

8. Interesting question

A reverse angle might be a Muslim who refused to take off similar clothing that wasn't consistent with a company's choice of uniform.

What sort of reasonable accomodations would be expected?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Deleted - Dup