A passenger flying to Germany slapped a flight attendant onboard because of “Sharia law.” He had objected to being seated beside female passenger.
The incident happened on June 1, on a flight from Samsun, Turkey, to Düsseldorf, Germany, but is now just coming to light. The 29-year old man refused to sit next to the woman. When a female flight attendant intervened, the man slapped her in the face. Dusseldorf police report him explaining himself with “Sharia.”
Police met the aircraft in Dusseldorf. The passenger insulted officers in Turkish. One officer understood Turkish, resulting in a second criminal complaint. I was today years old when I learned that insulting police is a crime there.
There are three things that seem misreported in headlines about the incident.
- Many U.S. headlines are describing this as a “punch” but the underlying German reporting appears to consistently describe it was a slap.
- The passenger was a German citizen, but some reports call him a “Turkish migrant.”
- The flight is being reported as Turkish Airlines. I first saw the story for instance at Loyalty Lobby. But Turkish says “the incident in question did not occur on a Turkish Airlines flight and is unrelated to Turkish Airlines.” In fact, it was SunExpress flight 1350. (SunExpress was founded as a Lufthansa–Turkish Airlines joint venture, which may explain the confusion.)
Sharia is controversial in Germany with Islamist group demonstrations demanding that religious rules supersede German law, and fears in response about decline in traditional society as well as famale equality. The government has banned some Islamist groups such as Muslim Interaktiv.
Passengers looking for a more Sharia-compliant experience would be advised to stick with Saudia, Iran Air and Royal Brunei. However, even these carriers generally don’t segregate passengers by sex or guarantee that an unrelated man and woman will not be seated together.
That said, IndiGo lets female passengers see during online check-in which seats have already been selected by other women (highlighted in pink) so they can choose to sit together and avoid men creeping on them. Male passengers don’t receive gender information.
It’s time that FAs or Pilots carry tazers and zip ties. Once in the air there is no protection available until they land.
Coming to a US neighborhood near you.
I’ve heard of the same thing on ElAl, orthodox Jewish men demanding to be reseated so as not to sit next to women.
The Sharia Law card. Trumps all other cards. (No pun intended.)
There is clearly an income stream opportunity here: selling Sharia Law compliant seats. No-one beside you, in front of you or behind you.
Only 25 times the price of a non-Sharia Law compliant seat.
Should be a winner!
“I’m desperate and looking for a better life than the terrible place I had to abandon” but also “Replace your culture and laws to match my old terrible country.” Makes sense.
While you’re in our country you are subject to the laws of our country. If you (or your religion) have an issue with that, you’re more than welcome to stay in your own country.
Put them in the back of the plane in the non recliner seats next to the toilets
Any person who assaults another needs to be arrested and banned from all airlines for one year minimum
“@Raphael Solomon – I’ve heard of the same thing on ElAl, orthodox Jewish men demanding to be reseated so as not to sit next to women.” I prefer facts to conjecture.
@Nun “I’m desperate and looking for a better life than the terrible place I had to abandon” but also “Replace your culture and laws to match my old terrible country.” Makes sense.” How true. IMO and history. islam is not a religion, but a battle plan for world domination. If this upsets people then research the facts.
An example of what Raphael mentioned:
EasyJet pays compensation to woman asked to move by ultra-Orthodox Jewish men
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/10/easyjet-pays-compensation-to-woman-asked-to-move-by-ultra-orthodox-jewish-men
True story. I am reading this article and I get a pop-up ad for goat feed. Coincidence?
there is only one part of Sharia law that I think is justifiable: removing the offending hand of a thief. of course DC would be a no-hand state. so would must politicians today.
At the very least brand them so everyone will know the kind of person they are facing.
Simple proof, Sharia law should not be allowed anywhere but a Muslim Country. The men have no respect for women and will resort to violence to defend it no matter where they are!
Actually, Sharia Law shouldn’t be allowed anywhere.
@David:
First of all there’s no Sharia law which states as such men can’t be seated next to woman. After all, millions of men/women mingle during the Hajj and Umrah. Second, thanks for showing small-minded bigotry.
As the saying goes, “better to remain silent and be thought a fool”-That PERFECTLY applies to you.
@Lori”
Generalizing billions of people based on a stereotype isn’t an argument, it’s just small-minded bigotry. People’s actions are their own individual actions, not dictated by their religion.
As the saying goes, “better to remain silent and be thought a fool”-That PERFECTLY applies to you as well.
Religion ruins everything. It has no redeeming value.
@OtherSteve:
Saying “religion ruins everything” is just bigotry and prejudice. Billions of people live meaningful, peaceful, ethical lives shaped by their faith. Individual behavior varies by person, not by religion.
Why insult and denigrate billions of people?
Apropos, Maoist China, Khmer Rouge and currently North Korea all have had or have “state ideology” and/or atheism. How have or did those turn out?
Import the third world, get…
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
More proof that we need a worldwide no-fly list that would include any willing airline and/or country.
On a somewhat unrelated point, it hit the news maybe a decade (or more) ago that QF had a policy of not seating unaccompanied minors next to males. As a guy who typical gets one Y-class QF flight a year, I kinda liked the rule, despite its implication.
Sharia law does NOT forbid men sitting next to women. Certainly not on aircraft.
@SAS — I blame Shakira law… those ‘hips’ might not even fit in the seat! Thicccc.