Stewardess to challenge airline's Bible ban
An air stewardess is to challenge a ruling by an airline preventing staff from trvelling to Saugi Araia with a Bible. Bmi, formerly British Midland Airways, confirmed that the matter is now subject to an industrial tribunal due to take place in the new year. The stewardess, a committed Christian, likes to take her Bible, which was once her mother's, with her when she travels. But Bmi says it has banned her from taking the Bible with her in accordance with Foreign Office advice that no non-Islamic materials or artefacts are allowed in Saudi Arabia. On its website the Foreign Office says of Saudi Arabia: "The importation and use of narcotics, alcohol, pork products and religious books, apart from the Qu'ran (Koran), and artefacts are forbidden." The Bmi case follows that of British Airways worker Nadia Eweida, whose objection to BA rules which forbade her visibly wearing a cross led to a review by BA of its uniform policy.