Ezzaz Aziz and his offensive necklace
"The Netherlands is a democratic country. I think it's nonsense that you can express one religion but not another. I feel a fire burning inside me because I don't live in a democratic country, but in a third world country." That's what it has come to.
"Conductor banned from wearing crucifix necklace," by Thijs Papôt for Radio Netherlands, June 16 (thanks to C. Cantoni):
An Amsterdam appeal court has ruled that the Amsterdam public transport service is within its rights to ban its conductors from visibly wearing a necklace bearing a crucifix.The verdict backs an earlier ruling at the end of last year. Egyptian-born tram conductor Ezzaz Aziz appealed against the decision after the transport service suspended him for refusing to take off or conceal his necklace during working hours.
Mr Aziz objected to the fact that he was forbidden to wear his religious symbol, while Muslim women were allowed to wear headscarves. Mr Aziz claimed he was a victim of discrimination because headscarves are also an expression of religious belief.
"The judge didn't consider the equal treatment of two religions within one company - only whether the company rules applied. But that wasn't my intention. In the company we have two religions, and one religion is allowed to do what it likes and the other isn't allowed to do anything. That's why I appealed against the ruling."
Dress code
The court ruled that the public transport service wasn't guilty of discrimination because the rule wasn't against wearing religious symbols, but simply against visibly wearing necklaces. For security reasons the service's dress code bans employees from wearing any necklace outside the uniform.
The dress code allows the wearing of headscarves, as long as they bear the company logo. And the transport service points out that if Mr Aziz wants to express his religious belief, he's welcome to wear a ring or an earring with a crucifix.
Nevertheless, Mr Aziz says he's disappointed in Dutch justice. As a member of the Coptic Church, in Egypt he was barely able to express his religion. He expected things to be different in the Netherlands.
"The Netherlands is a democratic country. I think it's nonsense that you can express one religion but not another. I feel a fire burning inside me because I don't live in a democratic country, but in a third world country."...
Geert Wilders for Prime Minister, he's the one whom Europe needs.
Well, dress code is dress code. And necklaces are easily seen, snatched and torn off. Particularly in a muslim neighborhood perhaps.
A disgrace! However, Mr Aziz could do the following: have cloth crucifixes made and then sew them onto his clothes. He could sew one onto his tie, onto the collars of his shirts, as well as onto the jacket he wears when driving his bus.
They're not 'jewellery' and so wouldn't count as far as the strict dress code of his employer is concerned.
The dress code allows the wearing of headscarves, as long as they bear the company logo.
Wouldn't that be haram? Are there any female conductors? How many are Muslimahs? How many of them insist on wearing a headscarf?
Hurry up, Geert. This madness has to stop.
Just as Western whites who convert to Islam become "Honorary Browns", so Mr. Aziz has learned that he is considered an "Honorary White" -- i.e., that unofficially, but powerfully, he has less rights than the most privileged perceived minority in town -- the Muslims. And what makes this madness deliciously perverse is that it is Western whites who are enforcing this Reverse Racism!
See: White Muslims: Honorary Browns for more detailed analysis of the problem.
No wonder then I was denounced as a "white bastard" in a "Everybody draw Muhammad day" Facebook group:(
I believe I had doubted the immutability of the Quran. and my position wasn´t much loved.
A persons religion must be kept in the mind and not displayed in neck jewelery. The dress code should be secular in nature and not used as an advertisement for ones religious beliefs. A US politician would lose votes if the American flag was not pinned to his lapel. There must be a better means of Identity than becoming a human billboard.
Hugh,
Thanks again for considering my request to bring Rudy Giuliani and Paul Sperry together by inviting them as speakers to the 9/11 rally. This will be good for our cause, good for this country and the world. And there's no telling how big the impact will be. Sky is the limit.
Regards,
Ruslan.
Ruslan Tokhchukov, Currently Not Enraged But Eager For Action.
He can carry a crucifix in every available pocket, and wear a rosary(with a company logo attachment) around his collar. That way he can say the company is included in his prayers! Problem solved..For now..
"Nevertheless, Mr Aziz says he's disappointed in Dutch justice. As a member of the Coptic Church, in Egypt he was barely able to express his religion. He expected things to be different in the Netherlands."
Friends whom used to attend our non-denominational church came to America fleeing for their lives from Egypt nearly 10 years ago due to religious persecution. They now attend a Coptic Christian church in SoCal, and are free to worship Christ without having their lives threatened here in America. (note to self: buy "NOBAMA 2012" bumper stickers, asap)
Anyway, I am a little surprised by this decision in the Netherlands since they are suppose to be a "democratic" country -- so hopefully this judges ruling can be overturned if Geert becomes PM -- I mean WHEN!
People missing something here:
"..For security reasons the service's dress code bans employees from wearing any necklace outside the uniform...And the transport service points out that if Mr Aziz wants to express his religious belief, he's welcome to wear a ring or an earring with a crucifix..."
A necklace makes a pretty easy neck grab for a criminal, I guess - so it could be a security issue for a tram driver.
Mr Aziz., with his Arab appearance understandably does not want to appear "Muslim" by his skin color - so I do sympathize with his desire to wear the cross. He would need a sizable ring to make the same statement.
And yes - we need Geert Wilders anyway.
Unless you're a Muslim. Everyone else "keep your religion in your mind" and refrain from "being a human billboard."
What Constitution do you claim?
In 1986, my secretary at Boeing wore an African headdress as part of her anti-apartheid mindset and there was nothing anyone could do about it. It (she) smelled and looked ridiculous.
If jewelry is banned, I'd get an embroidered necktie.
Our Arab Christian brethren really do throw the misguided Leftists who equate Islam with a "race" for a loop--what now? How do they define Mr. Aziz? Where's the cries of racism? So shallow and hypocritical, these so-called Leftists are.
A necklace is almost always a safety hazard in many occupations for various reasons probably too numerous to go into here. The hijab is also a safety hazard in many of the same ways, except when it is used to restrain long hair and its advantages thereto outweigh its hazards. If a person has short hair, there is no valid reason to wear a hijab for safety reasons; it then, for most women, becomes a fashion accessory and for the Muslim becomes symbolic of faith and may be regulated for those reasons (offense to the general public, etc.).
The transportation agency is only doing what it must to ensure safety for its employees and its customers.
Since the hijab is meant to (self-described by Muslims) protect the modesty of women, then it is nothing but a fashion statement. Modesty is not a religious tenet, per se (basic genitalia coverage so as to be able to conduct daily business worldwide and prevent delay-creating "crotch watching" notwithstanding) and there is no religious text that anyone can put forth showing a hijab is necessary.
In fact, I'd like to make sure these places ask for proof of religious "need". Then we can get Muslims on record refering to the ahadith and Sunnah as irrefutable and necessary, and not just brush-off optional like so many Qur'an-only kitman artists purport.
This BS makes Geert Wilders,and everybody else who voted for him (as well as those who couldn't but agree with him), substantiate their opinion and vote. Oklahoma City and Herouxville Quebec should be sister cities..With a miniscule amount of gray matter,re: brains!,(if there's any left) a neural network of "counter-borg" communities will/should/have to/must! develop.
N O W..
Come to the U.S., Mr. Aziz. We need more Christians.
The more the merrier. And you can display as many crosses as you want.
He can alway go back to where he came from.
Ha ha ha..HO HO HO HI DE HI HI DE HO..
Why don't YOU take your own advice, since you claim to live in America. Be gone, and take your iSlime with you.
Advice to Mr Aziz.
Get a cross tattoo (which, I understand, many Copts do anyway) or a lapel pin.
I can understand why, as others have pointed out, the wearing of a necklace, irrespective of whether it has a cross, lotus, yin-yang medallion, star of david, or anything else on it, may be banned for safety reasons in a job where you have contact with unpredictable members of the public (for the same reasons, policemen and attendants in asylums - ask duh-swami and 'Undaunted' for more info. - do not wear proper ties, for you can be choked with them).
Further advice: vote for, donate to, and indeed join, Geert Wilders' 'Party For Freedom'.
Geert Wilders, the Dutch people who voted for him are outrageous, that with all the votes, he still might not be in Parliament.
The system their is different than here.
The VVD, a right wing party had the most votes, he will join with another party to form a new government.
The people thought that the would do that with PVV (Geert)
But he wants to do it with the CDA ( a Christian group ).
The PVDA is out, it is a blue party for the working class, for whom lot of original Dutch people voted for, but now that they do everything in favor for the Muslim group, people left and went to PVV or VVD.
As far as the cross is concern more outrageous stuff.
On 5 December the Dutch have a Holiday with gift giving.
"Sinterklaas" A guy dressed up in Bishop clothing on a white horse bring gifts to the children, but their is a gross on his headgear ( don't know how you call it ) they started protesting over that too.
I wonder what they will see to a Nun when she wears a cross.
What is wrong with their legal system.
Thinking of Pim Fortuyn who was running for Prime Minister,
he gave speech about Islam and their by infuriated a dutch Islam symphathizer, who waited for him by a radio station, when Pim came out he fired a couple of shots and was killed.
He got only 15 years!!!
The murderer of Theo van Gogh is in for life.
Geert is under constant protection and so is Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who left the country and is now in the USA.
When I see what is happening to my native country, I can't the believe the government.
But here in the USA too. The people in Holland have woken up, but here in the States, too many are still asleep.
With Obama in the White House we are out of luck when it comes towards Islam.
We had a similar case involving a BA check-in clerk some years back-my opinion is that as long as there is no risk of the crucifix being tangled in machinery then the person in question should be free to wear whatever he/she regards as emblematic of his/her faith!
Terry
The curse of islam is slowly enveloping the Netherlands, as it is doing to the rest of western Europe.
This whole issue is frankly bizarre. I spend a large part of my life in the Middle East due to my husband's employment. I wear my cross and chain and if it is not liked, no-one ever mentions it and I wear it regardless. So to read that in the West this is now becoming a problem for Christians is truly upside down.
Christian Indians have crosses tatooed on their thumbs and it's about time ties, neck-scarves and t.shirts were out there for all us Christians to buy so that we can break the law at will, because this is not about the health and safety of this gentleman who is Iam sure able to take care of himself should he meet with an accident,but about the banning of Christian symbols. These pc merchants need to shut up and get a life. And defenderofislamm get the hell out and go to an islamic terror state where you belong. You do not belong in the civilised world.
Don't Islamists do enough to be woried about that we need not magnify non-issues?
"The dress code allows the wearing of headscarves, as long as they bear the company logo. And the transport service points out that if Mr Aziz wants to express his religious belief, he's welcome to wear a ring or an earring with a crucifix."
So, they force the Muslims to but a LOGO on their religious covering, and the policy is only about visible JEWELRY, not religious symbols.
Frankly my reaction to this piece is that if the "discrimination" had been on the other foot the "victim" would get NO sympathy here at all!
How do we stand for fairnes if we cannot see what is fair when we are involved?
http://hereticscrusade.com