Muslim Refuses To Sell Bible Story Book At M&S

[bopdude]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

And, how many people (for whatever reason) have to work in a job they hate

Plenty

Originally Posted by Stuart C

or even find fundamentally offensive because they can't afford not to?

Depends on how desperate and how strong the belief, I suppose

Originally Posted by Stuart C

However, there is nothing stopping her finding a member of staff willing to sell the book.

Still, she's not doing the job she's paid to do...... serve the customer.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by bopdude

Still, she's not doing the job she's paid to do...... serve the customer.

The same argument could apply if (say) they started selling porn. I do think she should have found another member of staff (assuming she didn't, as we don't know either way). If the M&S she works in is anything like any of the ones I have been in, I am fairly certain she'd be able to find a customer wanting to buy something else.

Well the Mail has 'covered' this news item.

[bopdude]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

The same argument could apply if (say) they started selling porn.

Yes and no, is porn against any religeon

Originally Posted by Stuart C

I do think she should have found another member of staff

Same argument from me, why, when she is paid to do it ?

Originally Posted by Stuart C

(assuming she didn't, as we don't know either way)

Nope, it's the Star and I wouldn't touch it with yours

Originally Posted by Stuart C

T If the M&S she works in is anything like any of the ones I have been in, I am fairly certain she'd be able to find a customer wanting to buy something else.

Yes, but that leaves the customer she / he had with what ? more searching for a employee that can, maybe, depending on product, help.

Sorry but I still say, if ya can't do the job, ya shouldn't be there.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by The Mail

When the grandmother put the book on the counter, the assistant refused to touch it, declared it was unclean and then summoned another member of staff to deal with the purchase.
Mrs Friday was so upset that she has now complained to the store's manager.
Politicians and religious leaders supported her in condemning the high street chain and it has reignited the debate over religious beliefs in the workplace.
Conservative MP Philip Davies said the refusal to serve Mrs Friday, 69, was "unacceptable" and "damaging" to community relations.
Inayat Bunglawala, assistant secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, described the assistant's comments as "offensive" and called for Marks & Spencer to conduct an investigation.
He said: "This appears to be a very regrettable incident and the 'unclean' remark was clearly very offensive and unacceptable.
"Many Biblical stories complement the teachings of the Koran. We hope that M&S will investigate this incident."

Did I read this right, the quotes from the secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain are slapping the sales assistant and saying the bible is ok

[Uncle Peter]

Setting aside the rights and wrongs of the matter at hand, should the national press really be giving such widespread coverage to what appears to be an individual's prejudices in this manner?

Certain sections of the media just seem determined to hammer a huge wedge between Muslim and Christian communities. Must matters really be made any worse?

[bopdude]

Originally Posted by Uncle Peter

Setting aside the rights and wrongs of the matter at hand, should the national press really be giving such widespread coverage to what appears to be an individual's prejudices in this manner?

Certain sections of the media just seem determined to hammer a huge wedge between Muslim and Christian communities. Must matters really be made any worse?

Apparently so, it sells papers and gets certain members of a well know forum going

Seriously though, nah, I can't see the point in reporting every 'little' thing, we're pussy whipped, just waiting for the country to roll over and have it's stomach tickled / clawed out.

And as the OP said, also, I am not a racist.

[Xaccers]

So to re-cap (using the Mail's report).
Grandmother places book, which contains images of Islamic holy prophets in it which are haram, on the counter.
Muslim sales person wishing to remain halal gets another sales person to deal with the customer.
Grandmother is ignorant of Islam and gets the hump over being served by someone else.

That about cover this non-story?
Have the papers got bored with Hain already?

You have to wonder at the mentality of the person who thought this was so important they needed to ring the press, no doubt excited at the fact they scored one against the muslims

[Chrysalis]

The question is if a cristian refused to sell muslim related items would they have been treated the same?

[TheNorm]

...the assistant refused to touch it, declared it was unclean and then summoned another member of staff to deal with the purchase...

Perhaps the book was dusty and the assistant had an allergy?

[punky]

Could I declare the the customer is unclean and refuse to serve them?

Reminds me of the sign: "No dogs, no blacks, no Irish, no Christians wanting Bible story books."

Good to hear Bungle's response from the MCB though. He's right. Many Muslims seem happy to serve alcohol and pork products to us infidels without being concerned about eternal damnation. I do know a Muslim who (I think) owns an off-license. He also has what looks like his dad behind him in his traditional clothes.

[BBKing]

read in todays edition of The Star

Star, tabloid newspaper, owned by Richard Desmond, who also owns the Express, which is running a vitriolic Islamophobic campaign based on hate and lies straight out of the Goebbels catalogue.

You're doing this deliberately to wind me up, aren't you? Next.

Putting aside the source of this article the fact is if you choose to take a job in the service sector thats what you do you provide the service. If you have a problem with that job then leave it don't try and bend it to suit you or your beliefs i am sure there are plenty that would be happy to have that job.

[Salu]

I think some Muslims cry "religion" far too often, yet they want to live in the "multicultural" UK and wish the UK to be more tolerant. Tolerance needs to be demonstrated all round in my opinion. She should not have refused to deal with the transaction as others have said she isn't forced to work there.

Irritatingly, I think that if the story was reversed ie a Christian refusing to touch a copy of the Koran, there would have been a much greater fuss made....highlighting the unspoken bias....

There needs to be a greater sense shown in potentially conflicting circumstances....Imagine the situation of a Muslim applying for a job at a Pork Butchers. Should the employer demand that they sell the Pork? Should Muslims not apply for employment to Pork Butchers. Wouldn't that effectively be discrimination? Should we ban Pork butchers as they offend Jews and Muslims etc....

Of course not. We need to be tolerant to each other and avoid potential conflicts.

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Putting aside the source of this article the fact is if you choose to take a job in the service sector thats what you do you provide the service. ...

Not always. Employees might have bad backs, be pregnant, have allergies, etc. There are plenty of reasons for not taking on every task in a job. This might be another.