Christians Under Attack

Journalist Claire Bergen, writing for the Independent Catholic News website indcatholicnews.com said, “Bmi, formerly British Midland Airways, confirmed that the matter is now subject to an industrial tribunal due to take place in the New Year.”

She went on to say, “The stewardess, a committed Christian, likes to take her Bible, which was once her mother's, with her when she travels.

“But Bmi says it has banned her from taking the Bible with her in accordance with Foreign Office advice that no non-Islamic materials or artifacts are allowed in Saudi Arabia.”

On its website the British Foreign Office says of Saudi Arabia: “The importation and use of narcotics, alcohol, pork products and religious books, apart from the Qu'ran (Koran), and artifacts are forbidden.”

Laura Clout, writing for www.Telegraph.co.uk, quoted a spokesman from the airline as saying, “We issue advice to all our staff and passengers that these are the guidelines.

“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. To take every personal preference into account would be impossible.”

Bmi said it offered the stewardess the opportunity to transfer from long-haul duties to short-haul, but she refused.

Now a Christian councilor from East London has entered the fray.

Cllr. Alan Craig, leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance group on Newham Council, is calling for Christians and Muslims to work together in support of the Bmi air stewardess.

“It is ludicrous for Bmi to take this stand and to condone Saudi religious intolerance,” he said speaking from Newham in East London, where Christians and Muslims comprise respectively 47% and 25% of the population (2001 UK census).

“British Christians and Muslims know the value of religious freedom as in the UK we have the right to openly carry our Bibles and Qu'rans and worship at our churches and mosques whenever we want.”

Cllr. Craig also called on Dr. Muhammed Abdul Bari, Secretary General of Newham-based Muslim Council of Britain to speak out publicly in favour of the BMI stewardess; to express his support for her to Bmi directors; to work with church leaders on her behalf and to use his contacts with Saudi Arabia to get their strict policy changed.

“Dr. Bari and other Muslims benefit from Britain’s religious freedoms and the London Muslim Centre even received significant British government subsidy,” said Alan Craig. “He should welcome this opportunity to use his significant influence in senior Saudi circles to benefit this Christian woman in that Muslim country.”

The case follows that of British Airways worker Nadia Eweida, also committed Christian, whose objection to BA rules which forbade her visibly wearing a cross led to a review by BA of its uniform policy.