It is unclear whether George Tannouri is right that his was a case of religious discrimination, but there is no doubt that he is correct when he says: “I am tired of how Christians are treated in Sweden. It is more okay to attack our religion than at others.”
And why is that? Because to criticize Islam, even to analyze how jihadis use its texts and teachings to justify violence, has been successfully tarred as “bigotry” and “Islamophobia,” in one of the most successful propaganda campaigns in modern history. Also, Christians won’t kill you if you criticize Christianity, or even threaten to do so.
“Did not want to take off his cross – lost his job,” translated from “Ville inte ta av sig sitt kors – förlorade anställning,” Världen Idag, February 12, 2021:
28-year-old George Tannouri lost his job because he did not want to take off the cross he was wearing around his neck.
Hanging objects are a security risk, the company believes.
– Religious discrimination, says George Tannouri, and says that several of his colleagues wore veils.
It was after about three months at Zalando’s warehouse, which is run by the company Ingram Micro and located in Kungsängen north of Stockholm, that George Tannouri was told that he was not allowed to wear the cross he always has inside the shirt.
“You must not wear a necklace,” two supervisors told him, he says.
George said that the cross is a part of him and that he did not intend to take it off.
“If you do not intend to take off your necklace, you must leave,” said one of the supervisors, according to George Tannouri.
George then chose to leave the workplace and lose his probationary period.
He says that he was close to starting to cry during the conversation – mainly because he felt hurt.
– Our people [Syrians] have been through so much in history, so we come to Sweden and what do we get right here?
He can not understand why he was not allowed to wear the cross.
– When they confronted me, they said that you are not allowed to wear any jewelry or accessories, but I have seen others who have had earrings. In addition, many wear hijabs, he says.
The world today contacts Ingram Micro to hear how they view the event.
“For safety reasons, Ingram Micro has clear rules about what is allowed to wear during work inside the warehouse. Among the things that are not allowed are necklaces, watches, other jewelry, hair clips and other metal objects,” writes Sylvain Monneyron, managing director at Ingram Micro Commerce Lifecycle Services.
He points out that the rules are stated in the employment contract and that the employee is thus obliged to follow these.
Why are some employees allowed to wear earrings then?
– They do not have that privilege. It may be that someone has had it outside the warehouse, in the lunch room or changing room where it is allowed, says Lisa Valinder Olsson, communications manager at Ingram Micro.
However, no one has had it in the warehouse, she maintains.
Why can you wear a veil but not a cross?
– It counts as a garment and is not considered a risk as long as nothing hangs loose, she says.
In what way can a cross under the shirt be a safety risk?
– Our employees work on machines and conveyor belts that are constantly in motion. Our goal is to minimize all risks that may exist to avoid injury to the employee.
The reason why a veil is not seen as a safety risk is that it must be tucked in, she says.
George Tannouri cannot understand in what way the cross would be a security risk, but he does not deny that he has signed an agreement stating that he undertakes to follow the company’s policy and himself needs to know what it means.
However, he believes that the cross is not a jewelry accessory for him, but part of his faith.
– I have as much right to wear a cross as others have to wear a hijab, he says.
George thinks that the whole thing is a case of religious discrimination and believes that it is just one of many examples of how Christians are neglected in Sweden.
– I am tired of how Christians are treated in Sweden. It is more okay to attack our religion than at others….
European pagan says
It’s because hijab women believe that they will go to hell if men see their hair. I don’t know what happens if he wears a necklace that is not so long (because there was a working place where we were not allowed to wear long necklaces because we worked with machines ) or a Jesus T-shirt.
Mount Zion says
I’m curious about what would happen if christians over there showed up for work wearing some peace of clothing or T-Shirts with a big cross printed on their back , or even better , on their chest .
Johnny Bo Kristensen says
What is more dangerous then, a necklace (with a cross) under the shirt or a belt that may even be exposed completely. I don’t think they ask you to drop yout belt (unless it’s decorated with a cross).
Singh T. Junior says
Vampires are scared of cross.
Templer says
So are Muslims and isam and SATIN
mortimer says
The veils are truly dangerous around machinery since they can cause strangulation or worse!
gravenimage says
So true.
“2010: Muslima dies as hijab caught in go-kart axle. 2014: CAIR demands hijabs on go-karts.”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2014/04/2010-muslima-dies-as-hijab-caught-in-go-kart-axle-2014-cair-demands-hijabs-on-go-karts
James Lincoln says
George Tannouri should conduct an experiment:
Where a garment that has a fabric cross embedded in it…
Cthulhu says
A small cross shaped pedant on a short leather strap. It’s still visible and it doesn’t cause any safety risk. It is hidden under the chin, so I can’t imagine a situation where a maschine can catch this pedant without destroying the face first.
Walter Sieruk says
This shows that growing subversive influence of Islam’s stealth jihad in a Western nation.
Clifford Fodor says
There’s nothing stealth about Sweden being the rape capital of the world thanks to its acceptance of Muslim immigrants.
Walter Sieruk says
Yes, Islam is a religion of vicious vile brutal misogyny.
JamesC. says
I think the Christian think would be, to obey whatever regulations one is required to do so, unless doing so would amount to denying Christ or sinning in some other way. If it were me, I would take the Cross off while doing that work. But this case involves him, not me.
Although Islam is a supremacist cult that is more than happy to take advantage of the least appearance of weakness in its opponents, I don’t think fear of seeming to kowtow to Islam is a sound basis for morality.
I think Christians should do what is right because it is the Christianly right thing to do – regardless of whether doing so risks heartening Islam or not. It would be a great victory for the opposition to Christianity, if that opposition could cheat Christians out of acting in accord with the precepts of Christ and into acting in an unChristian manner, all because they were afraid of Muslim influence and of its power to deChristianise society. “The Cross stands while the world turns”, even if its likeness cannot always be worn.
somehistory says
+100
tim gallagher says
As European pagan and James say in their comments, maybe he could wear a cross embedded in his shirt in stead of a necklace, but, of course, he has already lost the job. I think Christians, being, generally, such decent and peaceful people, because they are generally trying to follow Christ’s instructions to be peaceful and forgiving, are targeted quite a lot, whereas Muslims, who will carry on like violent idiots a lot of the time if they are told to toe the line, are allowed to get away with their garbage (such as, say, wearing hijabs around machinery in this case, etc).
Keith O says
Having worked in a dangerous environment I can understand the rules about no jewelry or hanging things from the clothes.
Saw a guy lose an arm because his shirt got caught in machinery.
BUT, that doesn’t explain why hijabs are ok?
If it is that bad then the company should provide head covers as some do here for guys and women with long hair.
somehistory says
Isn’t Sweden one of the countries where girls who were afraid of being raped by gangs of moslims were told to wear more clothing and not go out alone or at night?
If the moslims are allowed to wear what identifies them as moslims, even when it is “dangerous” to them with the machinery, this is no surprise. It’s too bad that this man didn’t think to how he might wear his cross where and when there would be no real objections, but it may be that the company owners are much like the government and give way to moslims, going against any Christians.
gravenimage says
Sweden: Christian fired for refusing to take off his cross, hijabs OK
………………..
Now, wearing a cross *might* be a safety hazard at a warehouse–but nothing like a hijab.
Could he have worn it inside his shirt during working hours? I doubt he was given the chance…
Jim says
Christians and Jews do not scare other people. If they did, no one would be anxious to be anti-Christian or anti-Semitic, as it could cost them their head. Sweden does have the reputation of not being very democratic. I had Swedish at college, and that issue came up. The people cannot influence their government so much, so what the government decides cannot be influenced b the people. Of course it is getting that way here too, with the hi-tech veto on what you can or cannot say. If it is not PC and woke and criticizes the left, it is subversive and a call to insurrection, racist and discriminatory and violates the constitution, and all hell will break out if one says anything the elites and establishment do not like.
A Hindu. says
Hope the ”woke” people in the west are realizing the reality of this death cult. Until now whenever the Hindus from India tried to speak about what Islam has been doing there for the past 800 yrs, we were told , it must be your fault as the Muslims are the nicest people we have seen. In fact has been the biggest ally of almost all the western countries(and still is for many). Interestingly though Hindus have never created any trouble for anyone still we have been the most Hated people in the west, because just like in Mosques even in Churches they teach them to hate the Hindus. It’s nothing but the Karma of the west.
gravenimage says
Your idea that Westerners hate Hindus is unfounded, A HIndu.
European pagan says
I think only muslims hate hindus… ?
somehistory says
I was never taught to hate Hindu people. In fact, I had a very good conversation with a sweet young Hindu woman who explained a lot of her belief to me. I could never hate someone who had such a sweet personality.
moslims hate us all and it’s easy to hate islam…and yes, to ‘hate’ moslims…because they want to bend us to their way, or kill us outright. And their ‘way’ is clearly evil. Better to be killed than to submit if there is no other choice or way out.
So please, don’t lump Christians in with those who hate you.
Giacomo Latta says
Anyone taking any bets on when the cross disappears from the Swedish flag? It’s already lying down.
gravenimage says
You aren’t wrong, Giacomo. This insanity, from just a few months ago:
“Call to remove the cross from the Swedish flag because it is ‘problematic’”
http://timesofsweden.com/2020/07/14/call-to-remove-the-cross-from-the-swedish-flag-because-it-is-problematic/
OLD GUY says
The world is sick, the islamic virus is running rampant and Biden opens the borders of America to the disease .What we need is a vaccine that kills the virus. Not open borders. We need the “herd” immunity to run over spreaders of this sick ideology.