| FrontPageMag.com | By Robert Spencer | By Hugh Fitzgerald | Books | Jihad Watch | Islam 101 | Qur'an Blog | Raymond Ibrahim | Robert Spencer |  |
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Welcome to the New Britain! And remember: when cabbies in Minneapolis started refusing to carry customers with alcohol, this next step became entirely reasonable. There are many Sharia rules, and we are going to see increasing pressure in the West to accommodate ourselves to them.
"Muslim M&S worker refuses to sell 'unclean' Bible book to grandmother," from the Daily Mail (thanks to all who sent this in):
A Muslim store worker at Marks & Spencer refused to serve a customer buying a children's book on Christianity because she said it was "unclean".Sally Friday, a customer at a branch of one of the famous stores, felt publicly humiliated when she tried to pay for First Bible Stories as a gift for her young grandson.
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."...
The store clerk was likely acting in accord with Qur'an 9:28.
Posted by Robert at January 15, 2008 10:54 AM
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"Many Biblical stories complement the teachings of the Koran. We hope that M&S will investigate this incident."
Ummmmm didnt the Bible come first so shouldnt be "Many Qur'an stories complement the teachings of the Bible?"
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at January 15, 2008 11:01 AM
Oh gee, what is all their garbage about they are part of the 'Abrahamic' religions? Or that they believe in IZA (Jesus) too, just not as the Son of God though?! Or that they believe in the old prophets too!?
I think they are so full of garbage and unclean thoughts themselves that this person should be fired.
Hold on to your seats (and if your a woman - your private parts) because sharia is coming and it is up to us to stand up against it.
at January 15, 2008 11:05 AM
Explain clearly to the misguided employee what the company policy is with respect to the offence and if the behaviour is repeated, fire her for cause. This is certainly what would happen to a Christian.
And if the employee were fired, watch the fireworks from the Muslim community - every line about persecution, and hate crimes would certainly surface.
Posted by: OolongChung at January 15, 2008 11:06 AM
JW readers, PLEASE contact Marks and Spencer to politely complain. Below is their contact information:
Marks and Spencer Group plc
Waterside House
35 North Wharf Road
London
W2 1NW
Telephone
020 7935 4422
Customer Services
Telephone
0845 302 1234
Email address
customer.services@marks-and-spencer.com
I have already emailed and will also be writing a letter to their chairperson. Although I am American, I order online from M&S throughout the year to buy presents, flowers, etc. for my husband's family in the UK; I also shop there when I visit Britain. No more until/if they explain this incident.
Posted by: kaffirchick at January 15, 2008 11:08 AM
Sackable offence, gross misconduct!! Don't mess about!
Boycott muslim businesses whenever you can, refuse a taxi ride from a muslim - hit them in the pocket!!
Posted by: Demvaril at January 15, 2008 11:09 AM
I used to manage in the retail industry. If one of my employees refused to wait on a customer and then insulted them - I would fire them.
Posted by: tanstaafl at January 15, 2008 11:14 AM
"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.'...
-- from the article above
The slithery Inayat Bunglawala pretends to share our indignation here, but he can't keep it up without revealing his world-view. Note the last comment: "Many Biblical stories complement the teachings of the Koran."
Why is that relevant? What if the Bible stories did not, in his view, "complement the teachings of the Koran"? Do those stories only have value, and are only to be protected, or treated neutrally (and refusing to touch a book, calling it "unclean" is not treating it neutrally) because they may, as he puts it "complement the teachings of the Koran"?
What a view inside his brain, a brain on Islam, is offered by that -- to non-Muslims -- quite unnnecessary and, by the way, offensive comment.
One final query. Is it right and proper for non-Muslim clerks to handle a Koran? Or should they refrain from handling it, lest by their own "unclean" status -- "najis" in the list provided at the Shia cleric Al-Sistani's website -- they sully that book?
In other words, would Muslims make clear to non-Muslims how we are to treat the Qur'an? Do we touch it, or not touch it? Do we wear gloves, or not wear gloves? Do we tug at our forelocks with one hand, or bow slightly if we are boys and curtsey if we are girls? What do we do with the Qur'an? And do the same rules apply to a collection, say by Al-Bukhari or Muslim, of the Hadith? Tell us.
Infidel youth wants to know. Lest we offend.
Posted by: Hugh at January 15, 2008 11:18 AM
...Rule 33a.....do not hire Muslims....
Posted by: exsgtbrown at January 15, 2008 11:20 AM
OK ... I've had enough! The gloves are coming off with these Stone-age fuckwits. I will not put up with any more of their shiite bollocks.
''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.'' SNIP
Regrettable? This scumbag checkout operative feels entitled to denigrate the religious views of others whilst his own 'wicked and evil' religion is granted protection in UK law and who would be out on the streets rioting with many more of his psychopathic brethren were the boot on the other foot and someone described the Koran as 'unclean'.
Does not this outrage deserve the same protection under the law that has been used to oppress those who would ridicule Islam?
More to follow ... once I have calmed down and kicked my pet pig Mohammed around the garden a bit.
at January 15, 2008 11:30 AM
OK ... I've had enough! The gloves are coming off with these Stone-age fuckwits. I will not put up with any more of their shiite bollocks.
''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.'' SNIP
Regrettable? This scumbag checkout operative feels entitled to denigrate the religious views of others whilst his own 'wicked and evil' religion is granted protection in UK law and who would be out on the streets rioting with many more of his psychopathic brethren were the boot on the other foot and someone described the Koran as 'unclean'.
Does not this outrage deserve the same protection under the law that has been used to oppress those who would ridicule Islam?
More to follow ... once I have calmed down and kicked my pet pig Mohammed around the garden a bit.
at January 15, 2008 11:31 AM
"This appears to be a very regrettable incident..."
Yes, it appears that all incidents and anything that has to do with Islam is, alas, regrettable.
From Bibles in Britain to bacon in Detroit, the oh-so-offended are on the offensive.
Posted by: Isabellathecrusader at January 15, 2008 11:31 AM
I would not go back to the store until the employee is corrected in full or fired.
Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at January 15, 2008 11:51 AM
Perhaps non-Muslim staff may be permitted to refuse to handle halal meat?
No, thought not.
Posted by: Joshua at January 15, 2008 11:58 AM
I sent this email to them:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Now widely reported in the media, it appears that a Marks and Spencer employee has refused to ring up a book of Bible stories because it was 'unclean' according to her religion.
Had a non-muslim behaved in a similarly insulting way to a muslim, the Race Relations industry would be having a field day and Marks and Spencer would be obliged to either sack the person involved or face boycotts, riots or worse.
Not being part of an official victim group, there is no group that the Sally Friday can turn to, but there are millions of Britons who individually can make purchasing decisions based on how Marks and Spencer decide to handle this case.
This affair is now public and I hope that this email as well as the others you will receive will encourage Marks and Spencer to have the good sense to immediately sack the veiled woman for her insulting behavior. When she is sacked, my family will happily continue to shop in Marks and Spencer.
Kind Regards
Posted by: Sebastien at January 15, 2008 12:10 PM
Perhaps Christians should riot and burn down the bookstore, threatening the life of the muslim scum...seems like violence is the only other thing they respect...
Posted by: AmericanTiger at January 15, 2008 12:33 PM
...we may, one day soon, begin to see western book store clerks refusing to touch or sell the Qur'an and similiar Islamic texts....fair is fair...
...btw...is there a large selection of non Muslim books found in bookstores in Muslim dominated countries?.....
Posted by: exsgtbrown at January 15, 2008 12:37 PM
Hugh Fitzgerald -- Thank you, that was spot-on.
Sebastien -- Good email!
Posted by: Josephine at January 15, 2008 1:12 PM
Robert wrote:
"Welcome to the New Britain!"
I have been to New Britain, Connecticut. I don't think it happened there. ;) Or in New London, Connecticut, either. Of course, we do have our share of Pakistani convenience store clerks.
at January 15, 2008 1:29 PM
Not so fast...
Here is the other side of the coin:
"Shop sources said the assistant may have been referring to her hands which were dirty and she did not want to touch the book for fear of marking it."
Yup, out of respect for the Bible, she didn't want to dirty it with her filthy hands....
Uhm... Wait a minute... Aren't employees required to wash their hands or something??? And, what was she doing ringing up merchandise with dirty hands anyway???
Well, on second thought, that excuse sounds pretty lame........
Cheers,
Posted by: Doctor Bulldog at January 15, 2008 1:32 PM
Sebastian said: Had a non-muslim behaved in a similarly insulting way to a muslim, the Race Relations industry would be having a field day and Marks and Spencer would be obliged to either sack the person involved or face boycotts, riots or worse.
I wonder, Sebastian. Let's say that the Christian employee was selling the Muslim a Koran. There is a good reason to believe that the Muslim would still be offended, since the Kuffar, the dirty Kuffar is filthy, and to touch a Koran would be a desecration. I think the Muslim would demand a Muslim sales person, and give offense to the Christian just trying to do her job.
Posted by: Jauhara Al-Kafirah at January 15, 2008 2:14 PM
My dad bought this same Bible Story Book for his granddaughter. She absolutely loved this little book.
Posted by: Jauhara Al-Kafirah at January 15, 2008 2:36 PM
Which branch of M&S is this? I'd like to pay a visit and take one of these books to this woman's checkout till.
On a separate note, my local Waterstones now has the Koran on the top shelf in the religious department. Might be a coincidence, but I recall Borders doing the same thing as the Koran has to be above all else (even in a bookshop).
Posted by: Celsius at January 15, 2008 3:18 PM
Hate crime!
Make somebody pay.
at January 15, 2008 3:29 PM
You have to hit the store in the only place it will hurt them more than being P.C., and that is in the pocket book.
She should immediatly file a lawsuit claming religious discrimination, public humiliation, willful intention to harm and any anything else a good lawyer can think of.
The only way to counteract this creeping institution of sharia law this is through civil litigation....
Wait until the day I am refused a service by a muslim employee based on religion, my kids will be going to college for free...
Posted by: adobe at January 15, 2008 3:39 PM
...I agree ...sue...sue the store...for a lot...
...note to stores...do not hire muslims...
at January 15, 2008 3:43 PM
Hmmm...Wonder if Marks & Sparks sells "Hustler"?
Posted by: MP at January 15, 2008 5:00 PM
Good thing that Muslim employee didn't work in M&S Food & Wine section where the cured pork pies and the bacon & sausage rolls are sold.
Posted by: Ray Zacek at January 15, 2008 5:12 PM
If Marks and Spencer (no relation, I assume) refuse to fire this employee, I can only hope that a UK reader will purchase Robert's books "The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion" and "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades" from her, and watch carefully how she handles those books.
It would also be worth checking where and how the Muslim employees arrange books on the shelves. We have read reports of other stores arranging books to ensure that the Qur'an is stored on shelves higher than books for other religions. We have also read reports that books critical of Islam are not kept in view in some bookstores, but are only available in the back, out of sight.
Posted by: special_guest at January 15, 2008 5:22 PM
When in a book store I always try to help out by reshelving that Q-book in either the fiction section or with feminist erotica.
Posted by: MP at January 15, 2008 5:42 PM
If this Muslim thought the company sold unclean items they should not have taken the job. By taking the job they affirmed their ability to do the job. This person should be fired for being a liar and a bigot.
As I have said numerous times. Get video of these people acting like bigots. Get it on youtube.com so the ignorant masses can understand that many Muslims are dangerous supremacist bigots.
Posted by: James Martel at January 15, 2008 5:46 PM
Why would a Muslim work for Marks and Spencer anyway?
Doesn't she know that it's a company with a Jewish history, sells a range of Israeli products and is routinely accused by Muslim groups and the Left of being ultra-Zionist.
Posted by: zaltys at January 15, 2008 6:01 PM
Unclean?! Please remind me: which of these two books was recited by a pedophile? The Qur'an or the Bible?
Posted by: Crusader at January 15, 2008 7:04 PM
Ok, not saying it's as good as Sebastien's, but here's the text of the letter I will be sending tomorrow (yes, a good old-fashioned letter in addition to email--I think it makes more of an impact nowadays!):
Dear Marks and Spencer Customer Service,
I have read on the Internet today that a Muslim sales assistant in one of your stores refused to ring up a book of children's Bible stories that a customer, Mrs. Sally Friday, was trying to purchase for her grandson. In addition to refusing to ring up Mrs. Friday's purchase, the assistant added insult to injury by declaring that the book was "unclean."
I worked as a part-time sales assistant in various large department stores throughout secondary school and college. Had I ever refused to ring up any item for a customer--on any grounds whatsoever--I certainly would have been fired, especially if I had also made a remark demeaning the customer's religion.
I have lived in Britain in the past (and frequently enjoyed shopping at Marks and Spencer) and am married to a UK citizen. While I no longer live in the UK, my husband and I buy items via the Marks and Spencer website several times a year to send Christmas and birthday gifts, Mother's Day gifts and flowers, etc. to my husband's family in the UK. In addition, I always shop at Marks and Spencer, especially for clothing, whenever my husband and I visit Britain.
However, I am stunned that any manager at your fine company would not have fired the sales assistant in question on the spot and also not offered a sincere apology to Mrs. Friday. While I am not an especially religious person, I certainly do not condone religious bigotry toward any group; in addition, I cannot fathom why and how a sales assistant can get away with selling only those items she finds "clean."
Are Muslim sales assistants in Marks and Spencer food halls allowed to refuse to sell pork products, alcohol, or other non-halal food to non-Muslim customers? Are they also exempt from selling women's clothing that would be immodest according to strict Muslim standards? (I wonder if Mrs. Friday would have been able to purchase a knee-length skirt or short-sleeved blouse from the same sales assistant, let alone a bathing suit!)
Frankly, I am reluctant to purchase any items from Marks and Spencer again until your company has apologized to Mrs. Friday and fired or at least penalized the sales assistant who displayed such extreme intolerance and rudeness.
Sincerely,
etc.
Posted by: kaffirchick at January 15, 2008 7:08 PM
If I was the manager of some shop, and this happened I would be ruthless and fire the person on the moment the evidence showed up proving the fact!
Posted by: Dr.CancerMan at January 15, 2008 7:54 PM
RE MP; I had a friend whom was fired from a bookshop for ensuring that inside the Koran the readers were treated to free, if (slightly off), slices of ham!!!.
Posted by: U.K. TODAY. at January 15, 2008 9:31 PM
From the article:
"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.'"
That's very nice that the MCB is not supporting this clerk's behaviour, but is it all based on the fact that "many Biblical stories complement the teachings of the Koran"? What if they didn't? What if, for that matter, the customer was trying to buy a book that contradicted everything in the Koran? Would that clerk's behaviour then be justified?
Just askin'...
at January 16, 2008 12:26 AM
...one of the nice things about a free society is that you can read a book on any subject you choose....you cannot do this in Islamic societies....try going to a bookstore in a Muslim dominated country and view the book selections availiable....be prepared to be disappointed....freedom of speech and freedom to choose are not Islaimic mainstays....in fact, you could be killed if you are caught reading something "inappropriate" or "slanderous to Islam"....
...it is clear to me....Ban Muslim Immigration...
Posted by: exsgtbrown at January 16, 2008 7:35 AM
hmmmm>....
"And God spoke all these words, saying: 'I am the LORD your God…
ONE: 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'
TWO: 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.'
THREE: 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.'
FOUR: 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.'
FIVE: 'Honor your father and your mother.'
SIX: 'You shall not murder.'
SEVEN: 'You shall not commit adultery.'
EIGHT: 'You shall not steal.'
NINE: 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.'
TEN: 'You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.'
In Islam:
1)I am Allah, you must submit to me
2)You must idolize the black stone
3)You must curse all that is not Islam
4)You must pray 5 times a day whether you want to or not
5)Kill your father and mother if they dishonor Islam
6)You should kill, actively pursuing all who refuse to submit
7)you should have many wives, concubines and female slaves to do with as you please.
8)You should actively raid the caravans and cities of the NonMuslims, taking all valuables while destroying all that you cannot carry...
9)it is permissible to lie for Islam, it is permissible to deceive for Islam, it is mandatory to lie at every possible opportunity....
10)you should bear false witness against your neighbor so that you can behead him, and take his wife and daughters for your sexual pleasure and you can take his property, his church, his donkeys, anything that was his is now yours....
...I like Gods ten commandments better the Allahs ten commandments...
...it is so simple...Ban Muslim Immigration...
Posted by: exsgtbrown at January 16, 2008 7:49 AM
"Many Biblical stories complement the teachings of the Koran. We hope that M&S will investigate this incident."...
So is he saying that if the stories did not "complement the teachings of the koran" that this islamist would have been correct in refusing to serve the customer?
And where does he get off saying that the Bible "complements" the koran, the koran is made up of bits and pieces taken from the Bible and the Torah. Why did he not say "let's not forget that the Koran is a work of fiction based on the Bible."?
Posted by: DaveMate at January 16, 2008 5:11 PM
I got the following reply from M and S:
Thank you for contacting us regarding the recent article in the Daily
Express newspaper.
At M&S, we pride ourselves on being both an equal opportunities employer
and a company which offers excellent service to all of our customers.
Needless to say, it's a matter of great concern to us if we ever fall
short of being either.
We have apologised to the customer mentioned in this article and we are
sorry if this matter has caused you any offence. Whilst we are unable
to comment further, please be assured that we are carrying out a
thorough investigation and are treating this matter seriously.
Thank you again for sharing your views with us, and we do hope you will
continue to enjoying shopping with us in the future.
I wrote back the following:
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I personally haven't been offended by this matter, it angers me. I'm angry
that businesses, governments and media bend over backwards to appease islam.
Some businesses would hope that case will be quietly forgotten and that the
staff member in question would be moved to a section where her 'outrage' of
infidel products such as bibles, porc products and alcohol would not be an
issue.
I do however feel that Marks and Spencer, which from my earliest childhood
memories has provided the finest sausages, Christmas Puddings, sherries,
mince pies and proudly promoted British products is made of different
mettle. I am certain that Marks and Spencer will be unapologetic in their
dismissal of this dreadful woman and I look forward to purchasing my
sausages and sherry at your shops as soon as news of her sacking reaches me.
Kind Regards
at January 17, 2008 9:02 AM
Okay, everyone-- Get up. Go to largest department store chain in your city. Select a Bible. Head for the first hijabbed cashier you see, and hope there are fireworks!
I see this as an excellent way to get back some of our own from the Flying Imams, and the CAIRing organizations who sponser them. Imagine the international brouhaha we could create!
Posted by: Abscedere at January 17, 2008 1:57 PM
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