AIRLINES SUSPENDS MUSLIM OVER ALCOHOL SERVING

New York, 18 Dzulqa’dah 1436/2 September 2015 (MINA) – An American Muslim rights group announced plans to file a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Express Jet Airlines for the revocation of a reasonable religious accommodation of a Muslim flight attendant.

“We have informed ExpressJet of its obligation under the law to reasonably accommodate [Charee] Stanley’s religious accommodation request regarding service of alcohol,” Lena Masri, staff attorney at the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), said in a statement obtained by On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“Instead, ExpressJet has deliberately chosen to violate Ms. Stanley’s constitutional rights.”

Working in a Restaurant that Serves Haram Food and Drinks

Hired by ExpressJet airlines, Stanley expressed her religious believes which prohibit her from serving alcohol.

The airlines directed the Muslim flight attendants to work out arrangements with the other flight attendant on duty to accommodate passengers’ requests for alcohol.

Working without incident until August 25, the setup was ended when ExpressJet placed Stanley on administrative leave for 12 months, after which her position may be terminated, according to CAIR.

CAIR said it is believed that ExpressJet Airlines revoked Stanley’s religious accommodation request based upon a complaint by a fellow employee that referenced the Islamic head scarf Stanley wears.

“There was outreach that was done to the company,” said Dawud Walid, executive director of CAIR-Michigan.

“Their response was not positive.”

The complaint will be filed on Tuesday, September 1, after which CAIR will held a news conference.

Islam takes an uncompromising stand in prohibiting intoxicants. It forbids Muslims from drinking or even selling alcohol.

The general rule in Islam is that any beverage that get people intoxicated when taken is unlawful, both in small and large quantities, whether it is alcohol, drugs, fermented raisin drink or something else.

In Islam it is not only considered Haram to consume what is Haram but the prohibition also extends to promoting or condoning or aiding or assisting in the commission of the act. (T/P006/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)