Interestingly, the London transport authorities have issued an apology to passengers on the Route 24 bus, operated by London General. As it goes, the Muslim driver of the bus decided to pull up on the side, and take a quick prayer break on his prayer mat, taking off his shoes and facing Makkah. Passengers describe their reaction as that of shock and amazement. After that he just got up and then the bus set off again. He did all of this without any apology or explanation to the passengers.
Transport for London has said that it is sorry for any inconvenience that might have been caused to the passengers and have asked London General to remind drivers who have a requirement to pray to do so in their rest periods.
I guess it’s quite a win win situation ….it does not ban praying. And by the way London transport system is remarkable the way it operates in a city like London.
But, call this a case of religious bias or plain cultural sensibility or relative social freedom….or the familiar enlightened moderation concept, but developments out of France recently surprise me.
Not because Muslim women in France might not be able to wear the burqa in public places or
because highest authorities there have said that it is not welcome there…but because in our country how relaxed things are! Recently, a colleague was heard saying I wonder why women cover their heads when they head for NWFP and forget about the dupatta when they come to cities like Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
Before you begin criticizing the authorities for this cultural norm, think a little how flexible we as a society are in some aspects…yes some aspects not all…
But never mind…nothing really serious!
hypocrates all over the world
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