Muslim only day at Alton Towers - is this OK ?

[vehelpfulguy]

So Alton Towers have allowed a Muslim organization to book the park for the day (September 17th 2006).

No tickets will be sold on the door on the day, and tickets can only be booked via an islamic organization.

Rides will be segregated (men only or women only), and women must cover their bodies in Islam style.

Also no music or alcohol is allowed, and only Halal food will be served.

The whole event could be considered racist, sexist and divisive, and does nothing to assist integration.

Surely in a country where people like Emily Pankhurst fought to get women equality and the vote (and some women died in the cause ) this is a backward step.

Should we be bothered about the trend here ?

More details here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2006/07/12/nwedd12.xml&sSheet=/news/200 6/07/12/ixuknews.html

[nantyboy]

Ward~Minter is not an idiot but he is an extreme right-wing racist, against everyone who is not English.

[Greedyfly]

Does seem a little over the top - but at the same time, If I were loaded and wanted to have a day there on my own and invite who I want and paid Alton Towers to do this then why not?
If they hadn't paid for the hire of the premises then it would be wrong I guess BUT they have hired the place just as you would hire a venue for a wedding or a party etc... As for the woman thing it is their religion and although I do not agree with ANY religion I understand that they believe in it and thats there choice.

[Booldawg]

'its only a private booking' - yes, thank you, that part of it is obvious. Its the laying down of the law part that I dont understand.

[Supernick]

If you want to be cross with anyone, then it's Alton Towers, although to be honest I can see why they've done it. You've got a private booking worth absolutely thousands versus an average day and one unlucky couple who wanted to get married. It's not the morally right decision to double book, but it's a sound business decision to make.

Who cares if Islamic leisure want to book the park for a day? Who cares if they want to rent the local community centre for a day? The whole point of a private booking is that you can choose who you want to be there, and can set your own particular rules. Why is it racist? And why is it seen as shunning an integration with the wider community? I can't see a better example of people fitting in with a culture, than seeing them whizzing around on a rollercoaster at 90mph.
If a large Christian group had hired the park for the day and was only allowing its members in then no-one would care.

[butterfly23]

Well said Supernick.

Naz_nomad, generally the majority of muslims do intergrate themselves in the wider community, if however they want to organise the odd event, specifically for muslims, I don't see the problem.

[ICEMANSAV]

What about if the BNP booked the day at Alton Towers, and insisted on Nazi uniforms and only Hitler burgers for sale etc. would that be ok, as it is a private booking?

[Supernick]

ICEMANSAV - the difference is that your example is blatantly offensive. If the BNP want to hire it for the day though and only invite their own members in, than that's fine, as long as Alton want their business.

[JamesEverton]

I find it very difficult to summon up a lot of sympathy for anyone who would choose to get married at a theme park. Chavtastic!

[Booldawg]

On that day Booldawg will be donning Muslim 'ninja style' ladies clothing and attempt to blag a free day at Alton Towers. Only concern is what are the 'women only' rides? No doubt the tea-cup merry go round. Bah! All the muslim men get ALL the fun!

[ICEMANSAV]

Supernick-- Some may say forcing others to wear religious clothing and conform to rules that is not of your faith is offensive. If for example the BNP invited it's own members, but if others wanted to go then they had to wear a swastika armband I see no difference between this and forcing women to cover up and men not to drink, not smoke and only eat halal food.

I agree both are equally offensive, but we can't have one rule.........

[bernardblanc]

I find this offensive. If these people want to come to my country that's one thing. If they want to keep up their divisive mumbo-jumbo then that's another. They can go back to their dark-ages hovels and stew in their own filth until Israel bombs them into little pieces.

[secret agent]

are the vast majority of you guys missing the point here?i dont know about the rest of you but as a white christian i feel this whole thing is racist towards me and other religions.when is the christian only day?or the male only day?i cant believe all you guys who support it!its like you have been brain washed into their way of thinking!can you imagine the uproar if their was a christian only day!?their would be a couple of days of debate and then it would be cancelled because it would insult f**king muslims or some **** like that.

[secret agent]

are the vast majority of you guys missing the point here?i dont know about the rest of you but as a white christian i feel this whole thing is racist towards me and other religions.when is the christian only day?

[secret agent]

what the hell is this ****

[the jackel78]

A leading BNP official actually telephoned alton towers to see if the BNP could book for a day. Alton towers had no problem with this.All that was stipulated was that people must be dressed in a traditional British manner and be christian to which the A.T. spokesperson could not discriminate in such a way. When questioned on the 'muslim day' and how it differed from its stipulations the spokesperson hung up. One rule for one ay....?