Malaysia’s First ‘Islam Compliant’ Airline, Rayani Air, Takes To The Skies

[trotsky]

http://www.ibtimes.com/malaysias-first-islam-compliant-airline-rayani-air-takes-skies-starting-muslim-prayer-2238883

The besieged Malaysia Airlines may have dominated the headlines in the last year, but a new airline from the southeast Asian country took off this weekend -- and it’s based on a strict adherence to Islamic customs. The new low-cost carrier Rayani Air, which calls itself the country’s first “Islamic” airline, focuses on Islamic rules and customs from takeoff to landing.

Muslim prayers are recited before flights, there is no alcohol or pork served on board and the Muslim women flight attendants adhere to a modest dress code.

Ironically, the founders of the airline are not Muslim: Ravi Alagendrran and wife Karthiyani Govindan, a Hindu Indian couple, launched the service after many conservative Muslims in Malaysia said the two Malaysia Airlines recent disasters were punishments from God for not adhering to Islamic values. Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing in March 2014, while Flight 17 was downed in an apparent attack over Ukraine a few months later. Alagendrran and Karthiyani melded parts of their first names to create “Rayani.”

Fundie birds of a feather. Old Pat Robertson blames hurricanes on America rejecting his religion, Islamists blame plane crashes on folks rejecting theirs.

[yeoman6987]

1. This doesn't bother me

In fact I think it is positive and it's a private company.

[trotsky]

2. I'm trying to imagine what a "Christian compliant" airline would like.

First question: whose version of Christianity?

Of course Rayani Air also has to answer that question for Islam. The items they have chosen to enforce might not be enough for many Muslims.

[yeoman6987]

3. I don't think we need a Christian airline because

They can handle giving out alcohol and pork. In the United States, Muslims are refusing to handle alcohol as flight attendants. You won't see a Catholic doing that. The Muslim religion is stricter them the Christian faith.

[trotsky]

4. Baptists and other Christian sects don't drink alcohol.

And they've passed laws preventing others from obtaining alcohol.

[yeoman6987]

5. True. I forgot about that

[earthside]

6. It bothers me.

In the same way that we have some bakeries in the U.S. who think that they can discriminated because then want to be 'Christian compliant'.

If you have a company and it is open to the public, then any kind of discrimination is bad.

Of course, I think we should move in the direction of France and have a completely secular society.

[trotsky]

7. Agreed.

I think this kind of thing leads to a slippery slope. People get put into the position of trying to figure out what won't offend ANYONE. Or trying to decide whose beliefs are worthy of deferring to, and whose aren't. Do we only respect "legitimate" religions? Who gets to define what makes a religion legitimate?

Better to just learn to live with each other - follow your faith if you want, but don't impose it on others. If you think alcohol is bad, then don't drink. But let other people enjoy it responsibly.

[msongs]

8. if they find out u are not a believer do they open the door and throw u out? nt