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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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9 November 2006
Alert: Contact Moroccan Airlines to Reverse Muslim Prayer Ban
IHRC is calling on all campaigners to contact Royal Air Maroc and urge them to reverse a recently introduced ban on Muslim staff members from praying during work hours.
1. Background
Royal Air Maroc recently banned Muslim staff members from praying during work hours stating that the employees had begun abusing the prayer breaks. Muslim employees are not being allowed to pray at work nor are they being allowed to go to the mosque during prayer times. Further, a number of prayer rooms have been closed as a result of this recently introduced ban.
2. Action Required
a. Write to the RAM headquarters and appeal to them against this recently introduced policy which restricts religious freedom for Muslim staff members.
Chief Executive Officer
Royal Air Maroc
205 Regent Street
London
W1R 8PE
Fax: +44 207 734 6183
b. Write to the Moroccan Embassy and appeal to them against this recently introduced policy of RAM which restricts religious freedom for its Muslim staff members.
HE Mr. Mohammed Belmahi
Moroccan Embassy
49 Queen’s Gate Gardens
London
SW7 5NE
Tel: +44 207 581 5001/4
Fax: +44 207 225 3862
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A Sample letter is given below for your convenience
Sample Letter
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Date]
Royal Air Maroc
Chief Executive Officer,
205 Regent Street
London
W1R 8PE
Dear Sir/Madam,
Re: Appeal against ban on Muslim staff members from observing prayers
I am writing to you to express my concern against the recently introduced policy of Royal Air Maroc to ban Muslim staff members from praying during work hours. Muslim employees have been forbidden from praying at work or going to the mosque during prayer hours. Further, many prayer rooms have also been closed.
Freedom of religious belief and practice is one of the basic rights of every human being and as such is guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Forbidding all members of staff from praying because some were abusing their prayer breaks is no excuse to completely deprive them of their rights to practice their religious observances. It is as excessive and disproportionate as banning lunch breaks because some members of staff abuse these breaks.
Further, prohibiting the religious freedom of employees is illegal in the UK and indeed the European Union under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations Act 2003.
It is quite ironic that the rights of Muslims are more respected and protected by the European governments and employers rather than Muslim governments and employers. I urge you to reverse your decision regarding banning Muslim staff from praying as it is an evident suspension of their religious rights.
Kindly confirm that this procedure of religious discrimination will not be implemented and if it has been implemented, that it will be reversed.
I look forward to hearing from you soon on this matter,
Yours Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
