Posted on 06/24/2011 12:20:53 PM PDT by Crush
The blogosphere blew up on Thursday with reports about Saudi Arabia’s inclusion in the global airline alliance Delta Airlines belongs to, SkyTeam.
An article at USA Today said (in the header) that Jews wouldn’t be able to fly to Saudi Arabia; nor would those carrying ‘any non-Islamic’ article of faith. Bibles, a cross around one’s neck or perhaps a St. Christopher medal would all presumably be taboo.
Delta immediately issued a statement and by Friday morning, USA Today had replaced the article with a link to a blog post primarily composed of the Delta statement.
Repeating a standard non-discrimination statement, Delta said: “[S]ome have raised questions about whether Saudi Arabian Airlines’ membership in SkyTeam means Delta is adopting any type of policies that could present barriers to travel for some passengers, including Jewish customers…it’s important to realize that visa requirements to enter any country are dictated by that nation’s government, not the airlines, and they apply to anyone entering the country regardless of whether it’s by plane, bus or train.”
Various legacy media and bloggers weighed in—some appeared to believe we should be comforted by claims Saudi policy only applied to Israelis.
The holy article prohibition appears to be valid, as recounted by Joshua Muravchik in a travel tale about his own experience in Saudi Arabia. In an essay at Commentary, Muravchik said the American Embassy at Riyadh advised him to simply put ‘non-Muslim’ on his visa application to the Saudis. Muravchik, being an honest fellow, put ‘Jew’ instead and he got in the country anyway.
Muravchik said he did bring his prayer book. Fortunately his luggage was not searched, although he took embassy officials’ advice on not leaving the prayer book “in sight” in his hotel room. Hotel employees might...
(Excerpt) Read more at theusreport.com ...
Non-story. Delta planes themselves won’t be going into Saudi Arabia, only the Saudi Air planes. This is the same arrangement as United/Continental with Lufthansa, which has been in place within the Star Alliance for YEARS. Also same for American Airlines & British Airways. In both these cases, the foreign carriers fly into Saudi after passengers transfer at the foreign carriers’ hubs (Frankfurt & Heathrow, respectively).
Keep in mind, Delta does a lot of business flying into Israel directly. United - based in Chicago, with associated political connections in play - has a lot to gain during a difficult merger if Delta is painted in a bad light. Ask yourself why the story was posted without the comparison to the Star Alliance, then taken down after the damage was done.
Islam is soooo tolerant......
When the gullible and foolish have been bamboozled, the last thing you want them to hear is another point of view - especially if your “religion” is based on total nonsense.
Those have been the rules in Saudi forever.
No Jews, no bibles, no crucifix, etc.
Otherwise I’m sure you’ll find yourself on the
next plane back out.
Even Christmas Cards are banned as un-Islamic.
Makes me want to gin-up a “Send a Christmas Card to Saudi Arabia” campaign.
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