Posted on 10/27/2006 12:11:13 AM PDT by Lorianne
Four Muslim baggage handlers are appealing against a decision to bar them from working at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. They say that the local government's decision to revoke their security passes is evidence of anti-Muslim discrimination.
A local government spokesman says the decision was based on an assessment of the terrorist risk.
He denied the move was linked to the men's religion.
Passes withdrawn
Lawyers acting for the four men say that dozens of other Muslims who work at the airport have also been stripped of their security passes, leaving them unable to work.
The four men, who are of North African origin, say they were summoned by security officials for interviews concerning their employment in August.
A few days later they were told that their airport passes, which gave them access to the area near runways, were being withdrawn.
Criminal complaint
A lawyer acting for the men said the baggage handlers were told they had been barred because they had "not shown that their behaviour was unlikely to violate airport security".
As well as appealing against the local authority's decision, the baggage handlers' lawyers have submitted a criminal complaint for alleged discrimination against the men on the grounds that they are Muslims.
The head of a local government office, Jacques Lebrot, said the ban had nothing to do with religion.
'Islamic radicals'
"For us, someone who goes on holiday to Pakistan several times raises questions," he told Reuters News Agency.
Mr Lebrot added that the local authority investigation looked for those who could "compromise airport security".
A book published by a far-right politician four months before the security clampdown raised questions about France's airport security.
Philippe de Villiers' book alleged that Islamic radicals worked at Charles de Gaulle airport and were planning terror attacks.
Too right. Lets hope this appeal gets thrown out.
You got my vote pal. I dont buy any gas from the stations they have taken over either. If thats bigotted then its too damn bad. Maybe they should straighten out their act.
how do you buy gas in nj....every station is operated by muzzies...its a union thing!!!!!
nowadays...you can get a new diaper for your head with every fill up!!!
No kidding!
Pardonez moi, but perhaps ONCE is enough!
I live in Maryland, seldom go to New Jersey. We are getting a bunch of them coming here too. They are buying up stations , I just go to the next one once I find them in there.
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