DOCTORS and health workers have been banned from eating lunch at their desks - in case it offends their Muslim colleagues.
Health chiefs believe the sight of food will upset Muslim workers when they are celebrating the religious festival Ramadan.
The lunch trolley is also to be wheeled out of bounds as the 30-day fast begins next month.
But staff and politicians branded the move political correctness gone mad and warned that it was a step too far.
Bill Aitken, the Scottish Conservative justice spokesman, said: "This advice, well-meaning as it may be, is total nonsense.
"It is the sort of thing that can stir up resentment rather than result in good relations."
The new guidance comes in the wake of the failed terror attacks on Glasgow and the death of suspect Kafeel Ahmed, 27.
Health chiefs in Lothian and Glasgow will give all employees time off to pray and to celebrate Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan.
But Greater Glasgow and Clyde as well as Lothian NHS boards also issued the advice, warning workers not to take working lunches, and said all vending machines should be removed from areas where Muslims work.
One senior consultant said: "What next? Are we going to have advice on how to deal with Catholics during Lent? "This kind of thing does more harm than good."
The guidance, which was sent round many organisations, was produced by Glasgow consultancy Meem, which advises on Muslim issues and counts the Scottish Parliament among its clients.
Don't you realise this could create harassment against Muslims.
I've heard Bashir Mann has made a strong protest against this ruling.
Ed
--- In AntiRacismUK@..., "w.raynolds" <w.raynolds@...>
wrote:
>
> I see it as giving an example of how to have good race relations.
The
> Express sees it as an opportunity to stir up discontent. It's the
> sort of journalism that could easily lead to harassment. Daily
Express
> DOCTORS GIVE IN TO MUSLIMS
> Monday August 13,2007
> By Tom Fullerton
> Have your say(8) <http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/comments/add/16309>
>
> DOCTORS and health workers have been banned from eating lunch at
their
> desks - in case it offends their Muslim colleagues.
>
> Health chiefs believe the sight of food will upset Muslim workers
when
> they are celebrating the religious festival Ramadan.
>
> The lunch trolley is also to be wheeled out of bounds as the 30-day
fast
> begins next month.
>
> But staff and politicians branded the move political correctness
gone
> mad and warned that it was a step too far.
>
> Bill Aitken, the Scottish Conservative justice spokesman,
said: "This
> advice, well-meaning as it may be, is total nonsense.
>
> "It is the sort of thing that can stir up resentment rather than
result
> in good relations."
>
> The new guidance comes in the wake of the failed terror attacks on
> Glasgow and the death of suspect Kafeel Ahmed, 27.
>
> Health chiefs in Lothian and Glasgow will give all employees time
off to
> pray and to celebrate Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan.
>
> But Greater Glasgow and Clyde as well as Lothian NHS boards also
issued
> the advice, warning workers not to take working lunches, and said
all
> vending machines should be removed from areas where Muslims work.
>
> One senior consultant said: "What next? Are we going to have advice
on
> how to deal with Catholics during Lent?
> "This kind of thing does more harm than good."
>
> The guidance, which was sent round many organisations, was produced
by
> Glasgow consultancy Meem, which advises on Muslim issues and counts
the
> Scottish Parliament among its clients.
>
>
>
> http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/16309
> <http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/16309>
>
--- In AntiRacismUK@..., "e.blois" <e.blois@...> wrote:
>
> Don't you realise this could create harassment against Muslims.
>
> I've heard Bashir Mann has made a strong protest against this
ruling.
>
> Ed
>
>
> --- In AntiRacismUK@..., "w.raynolds" <w.raynolds@>
> wrote:
> >
> > I see it as giving an example of how to have good race
relations.
> The
> > Express sees it as an opportunity to stir up discontent. It's the
> > sort of journalism that could easily lead to harassment. Daily
> Express
> > DOCTORS GIVE IN TO MUSLIMS
> > Monday August 13,2007
> > By Tom Fullerton
> > Have your say(8)
<http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/comments/add/16309>
> >
> > DOCTORS and health workers have been banned from eating lunch at
> their
> > desks - in case it offends their Muslim colleagues.
> >
> > Health chiefs believe the sight of food will upset Muslim workers
> when
> > they are celebrating the religious festival Ramadan.
> >
> > The lunch trolley is also to be wheeled out of bounds as the 30-
day
> fast
> > begins next month.
> >
> > But staff and politicians branded the move political correctness
> gone
> > mad and warned that it was a step too far.
> >
> > Bill Aitken, the Scottish Conservative justice spokesman,
> said: "This
> > advice, well-meaning as it may be, is total nonsense.
> >
> > "It is the sort of thing that can stir up resentment rather than
> result
> > in good relations."
> >
> > The new guidance comes in the wake of the failed terror attacks on
> > Glasgow and the death of suspect Kafeel Ahmed, 27.
> >
> > Health chiefs in Lothian and Glasgow will give all employees time
> off to
> > pray and to celebrate Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan.
> >
> > But Greater Glasgow and Clyde as well as Lothian NHS boards also
> issued
> > the advice, warning workers not to take working lunches, and said
> all
> > vending machines should be removed from areas where Muslims work.
> >
> > One senior consultant said: "What next? Are we going to have
advice
> on
> > how to deal with Catholics during Lent?
> > "This kind of thing does more harm than good."
> >
> > The guidance, which was sent round many organisations, was
produced
> by
> > Glasgow consultancy Meem, which advises on Muslim issues and
counts
> the
> > Scottish Parliament among its clients.
> >
> >
> >
> > http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/16309
> > <http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/16309>
> >
>
Think about it. If the majority are to be told they must not eat
anything for several hours because a minority are abstaining for
religious reasons, then there is likely to be resentment. After all,
it isn't their religion.
I think these MEEM people are a gang of free loaders cashing in on
the PC tendency in the public services.
The Muslim leadership can see this. That's why they've condemned it.
Ed
--- In AntiRacismUK@..., "w.raynolds" <w.raynolds@...>
wrote:
>
> I'm sorry but I don't follow.
>
>
> --- In AntiRacismUK@..., "e.blois" <e.blois@> wrote:
> >
> > Don't you realise this could create harassment against Muslims.
> >
> > I've heard Bashir Mann has made a strong protest against this
> ruling.
> >
> > Ed
> >
> >
> > --- In AntiRacismUK@..., "w.raynolds" <w.raynolds@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > I see it as giving an example of how to have good race
> relations.
> > The
> > > Express sees it as an opportunity to stir up discontent. It's
the
> > > sort of journalism that could easily lead to harassment. Daily
> > Express
> > > DOCTORS GIVE IN TO MUSLIMS
> > > Monday August 13,2007
> > > By Tom Fullerton
> > > Have your say(8)
> <http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/comments/add/16309>
> > >
> > > DOCTORS and health workers have been banned from eating lunch
at
> > their
> > > desks - in case it offends their Muslim colleagues.
> > >
> > > Health chiefs believe the sight of food will upset Muslim
workers
> > when
> > > they are celebrating the religious festival Ramadan.
> > >
> > > The lunch trolley is also to be wheeled out of bounds as the 30-
> day
> > fast
> > > begins next month.
> > >
> > > But staff and politicians branded the move political
correctness
> > gone
> > > mad and warned that it was a step too far.
> > >
> > > Bill Aitken, the Scottish Conservative justice spokesman,
> > said: "This
> > > advice, well-meaning as it may be, is total nonsense.
> > >
> > > "It is the sort of thing that can stir up resentment rather
than
> > result
> > > in good relations."
> > >
> > > The new guidance comes in the wake of the failed terror attacks
on
> > > Glasgow and the death of suspect Kafeel Ahmed, 27.
> > >
> > > Health chiefs in Lothian and Glasgow will give all employees
time
> > off to
> > > pray and to celebrate Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan.
> > >
> > > But Greater Glasgow and Clyde as well as Lothian NHS boards
also
> > issued
> > > the advice, warning workers not to take working lunches, and
said
> > all
> > > vending machines should be removed from areas where Muslims
work.
> > >
> > > One senior consultant said: "What next? Are we going to have
> advice
> > on
> > > how to deal with Catholics during Lent?
> > > "This kind of thing does more harm than good."
> > >
> > > The guidance, which was sent round many organisations, was
> produced
> > by
> > > Glasgow consultancy Meem, which advises on Muslim issues and
> counts
> > the
> > > Scottish Parliament among its clients.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/16309
> > > <http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/16309>
> > >
> >
>
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