If they did venture out, the could be killed. Islamic Tolerance Alert from the Kingdom of the Two Holy Places: "Crew members stranded in Muslim holy city," from Herald Scotland, December 18 (thanks to Twostellas):
Thirty Flyglobespan crew members are stranded in the Muslim holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia.The airline had a contract to carry passengers between Delhi in India and Medina for the Hajj pilgrimage.
Flyglobespan captain Bob Lee revealed that the crew members have been confined to their hotel for at least four days because, as non-Muslims, they are not allowed to move around the city.
He said crew members were unable to get seats on flights out of Medina because of the huge demand.
Capt Lee said 1,000 Flyglobespan passengers from India were also trying to find alternative flights home, adding to the difficulties facing the crew.
Katrina McBride, from Fife, said: "My daughter and a number of other crew who work for Flyglobespan are currently based in Saudi and India - who's looking after them? Who will bring them home, when and how soon?
"We are currently in limited communication with my daughter who is in a state of panic.
"She has already phoned, crying her eyes out worrying about what will happen, who will pay her hotel bill as she been working out there for almost six weeks?"
OT - but, People - are you aware that the "Arbeit macht frei" sign above Auschwitz has been stolen?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091218/ap_on_re_eu/eu_poland_auschwitz_sign_stolen;_ylt=Am8FcMAHglX9ZWJF5NL_2kRbbBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTNrcWhqMHVsBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMjE4L2V1X3BvbGFuZF9hdXNjaHdpdHpfc2lnbl9zdG9sZW4EY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwM1BHBvcwM1BHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDcG9saWNlYXVzY2h3
Ludovicus de Varthema was the first Infidel to make it to Mecca. So did Johann Ludwig Burkhardt. So did Burton, and he famously wrote two volumes about his trips to Mecca and Medina. So, I have read, did C. Snouck Hurgronje. There are, no doubt, many other Infidels who have, out of curiosity or the kind of impulse that makes people try to climb the North Face of K-2, that is to overcome an obvious challenge, visited Medina and Mecca. The French soldiers who were hastily made Muslims (or were some of them maghrebins in the French army, who in November and early December 1979 finally retook the Grand Mosque from those who had seized it, because the Saudis were incapable of doing it themselves, got to see the sanctum sanctorum. But the mystery is no longer quite what it was. Written and visual accounts by Muslims exist, and there is Burton if you want an account by a non-Muslim. You can see things on YouTube from the comfort of your home, and no need to worry about being imprisoned by the Saudi authorities, or possibly torn apart by a hysterical Muslim mob.
The tolerance of Islam on display again for all those with eyes to see. And Saudi Arabia protested the minaret ban in Switzerland as indicative of prejudice. Of course, in Muslimworld minarets are more important than human beings who are not Mohammedans. Couldn't make this stuff up if you tried.
I blame Flyglobespan for not providing enough safeguards.
I also see the 30 employees as complicit in agreeing to assist moslems in hajj. Let them walk, that's what their 'Perfect Man' would have done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA7iGxV6rt4
Obama shoul zip over on Airforce one and rescue them. It would be a good excuse to kiss some other part of the Saudi King.