Marks & Spencer Muslim Staff Can Refuse-To Serve

[trt]

you, if you are buying Pork or Alcohol.

Well that's another store off my list.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10532782/Muslim-staff-at-Marks-and-Spencer-can-refuse-to-sell-alcohol-and-pork.html

[THECORBYLOON]

JD there are Islamic scholars who have given rulings that the handling of alcoholic or pork-related products are not forbidden but there may be those who are strict in their beliefs and choose not to do so.

[ToraToraTora]

I would have thought that regardless of religion that the innability to actually do the job is key here. If you are hired to ring stuff through the till but are unable to do that then there is ample reason to not get hired in the first place on the grounds of competency. It would be like hiring a car mechanic who would not work on minis, you would not hire them in the first place.

[Zacs-Master]

That's very true Tora but M&S admitted it had made a mistake in putting the till operative in that position.

[THECORBYLOON]

In what way did the woman lack competency?

[ToraToraTora]

she was unable to serve certain items, thus she was not capable of performing that role and should never have been hired.

[hc4361]

I have been to many 'Indian', balti, curry restaurants, call them what you will, and the vast majority were owned and staffed by Muslims. Most sold alcohol, those that didn't have a licence were happy for me to 'bring my own' and provided the glasses, corkscrews and disposed of the bottles/cans. Back in the 70s these restaurants became very popular with the pub goers as they served alcohol when the pubs were shut, but only to diners to comply with the laws.

There will always be a minority of people in every type of society that are sticklers for what they believe to the rules, or the only way to do things.

[hc4361]

TTT, maybe the branch of M&S she was employed by didn't have a food hall when she was first employed.

[sp1814]

AOG

You wrote:

I am sure they would have many non practising Christian prepared to work on Sundays, so how on earth would that effect one's shopping experience?

That's not the point I'm making.

If we can accommodate Christians and Jewish people who may not wish to work on Sundays or Saturdays due to their religious beliefs, why can't we accommodates those who do not wish to handle pork or alcohol due to *their* religious beliefs?

[sp1814]

hc4361

You wrote:

There will always be a minority of people in every type of society that are sticklers for what they believe to the rules, or the only way to do things.

Absolutely.

These stories make it sound as if this is a widespread issue.

The reasons these stories make the papers is because it simply *isn't* a widespread problem. That's what makes them newsworthy.

I challenge AB members to find a Muslim-run corner shop that doesn't sell booze.

Seriously - I live in London. I have never encountered one.

[vulcan42]

I don't think the two scenarios are the same, as my wife used to say, in a religion the last part to be converted is the hip pocket. The Muslim running a corner is concerned about profit and will sell almost anything. The Muslim being employed in a supermarket knows the wage will continue, s/he can afford to cite religious dogma and act on it.

[sp1814]

vulcan42

You may have a point, but then, why is it that the overwhelming majority of Muslim staff in Aldi, M&S, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's etc have no issues in this regard?

[TWR]

Some trying to make a point SP?

[beso]

What would happen if an atheist refused to serve halal products?

[Zacs-Master]

Still a bad case of 'getting hold of the wrong end of the stick' going on I see.

[woofgang]

ZM, at least its keeping all the loonies in one place.....

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// If we can accommodate Christians and Jewish people who may not wish to work on Sundays or Saturdays due to their religious beliefs, why can't we accommodates those who do not wish to handle pork or alcohol due to *their* religious beliefs? ///

Simply because those practising Christian or Jews are not employed on a Sunday, but if a Muslim is not prepared to handle certain goods on every day of the week, then they must be prepared not to be employed at all.

[Zacs-Master]

Some of them are still arguing with me on another thread woof.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// You may have a point, but then, why is it that the overwhelming majority of Muslim staff in Aldi, M&S, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's etc have no issues in this regard? ///

Never heard the expression, "give them an
inch ............"

[TWR]

Already experienced it AOG.

[Zacs-Master]

You've got to laugh.