claims banned her from taking her Bible to Saudi Arabia, industry officials said.
BMI, formerly known as British Midland Airways, told her that it is against Saudi law to bring in religious books other than the Koran. The unidentified woman, a devoted Christian who takes her Bible with her everywhere, has said she is taking the airline to an industry tribunal claiming discrimination on religious grounds, BosNewsLife learned.
But BMI said it was merely following the UK Foreign Office’s advice allowing no non-Islamic materials or artifacts into the country. "The importation and use of narcotics, alcohol, pork products and religious books, apart from the Koran, and artifacts are forbidden," the Foreign Office said on its website.
BMI officials said they had made clear to all staff and passengers that these are the guidelines to be followed and that the Christian stewardess knew about the airline’s policy.
RULES VIOLATED
"She is saying she wants to carry her Bible with her. We are saying we can’t start designing rules around individuals when we’ve got several hundred members of staff," an airline spokesman said. "To take every personal preference into account would be impossible," he reportedly added.
BMI said it offered the stewardess the opportunity to transfer from long-haul duties to short-haul, but she refused.
The case follows that of British Airways worker Nadia Eweida who objected to BA rules forbidding her to visibly wear a cross. “"It is an expression of my faith, based on the Christian religion which I adhere to, his coming back in glory to take me home with him," she said, referring to her crucifix.
CROSS CONTROVERSIAL
"I didn’t realize that the cross would carry such weight but it only confirms and brings me closer to my faith because Jesus is alive," Eweida added in statements monitored by BosNewsLife.
The case led to a review by BA of its uniform policy and to concerns among Christian rights groups about what they perceive as the impending persecution of Christians in the UK.
UK-based Barnabas Fund, an advocacy group, told BosNewsLife recently that it had long been working "to make known cases of anti-Christian injustice around the world, and where possible to assist. Now we see the same thing increasingly happening within the UK." (With BosNewsLife reports and BosNewsLife Research).
