Britain: Airline stewardess fired for refusing to wear Burqa while in Saudi Arabia

by Infidelesto on April 27, 2009 · Comments

Wow, when a woman actually stands up for her human rights, she gets sacked.  Chalk it up to freedom of private companies to adhere to their own policies and rules? Well, in a way yes, but it’s still shameful that this company would require such things of their employees.  I’m sure that this will be spun into her not respecting “local customs” or some crap like that. 

180px-abayapairTimes Online – 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.

“It’s outrageous. I’m a proud Englishwoman and I don’t want these restrictions placed on myself.”

Saudi experts and companies that recruit women to work in the country say it is a “myth” that western women are required to walk behind men. There is no requirement for them to wear the abaya in public, though many do.

Good for her!

hattip: Jew With a View

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  • NickBilladeau
    This is really sad. I hope this company gets sued so hard they cannot recover. What a spineless company!
  • indygirl
    The British people need to STOP cowtowing to the Muslims! I understand the "when in Rome" but there has to be a point that one says this is demeaning and discriminates toward women and we (the company) aren't going to go along with that ... in fact, I have often wondered why a woman can't go "visit" (not that any of us sane people would want to go to those kinds of places) without having to cover up if it isn't their religion. Oh yeah, I forgot--the religion of peace doesn't let anyone express freedom or individual rights.
  • lin
    That "when in Rome..." comment would be fine... IF they (muslims) acted that same way when they were in OUR countries. But NOOOOO.
  • JEWHAWK
    " It’s outrageous. I’m a proud Englishwoman and I don’t want these restrictions placed on myself.”

    Oh Gosh...this is too much for my stomach.What happened to the British PRIDE?Why the heck
    the muslims are successfuly IMPOSING an ALIEN,MEDIEVAL,BACKWARD,ANTI-WOMEN dressing
    code to a NON-MUSLIM woman??

    It's utterly unbearable,humiliating and plainly WRONG to watch and ACCEPT IT as something
    normal.My dear Britons,support her,give her anything she needs to SUE that company!!

    It's beyond outrageous.It's an open muslim attempt to subdue US,the infidels.I urge all red-blooded
    britons to BOYCOTT everything muslim.
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