UK: Flags, toilets and tolerance in a prison service

[Christina Marie]

Flags, toilets and tolerance in a prison service

English National Flag




Until recently the English national flag was flown at all prisons in England. They are English prisons after all. Unfortunately, the banner of Saint George, the red cross of the martyr on a white background, was placed on the uniforms of some soldiers who fought in the Crusades 700 years ago and defeated Muslim armies occupying the Holy Land.


Therefore:


"... England's chief inspector of prisons banned flying the flag of England on prison grounds, since it featured the cross of St. George, which might be offensive to Muslims. Britain's version of the department of motor vehicles has also banned the English flag, as has Heathrow Airport ..."




Prison administrators in Britain are also celebrating diversity by making other reasonable accommodations for Muslim stakeholders:


"British authorities are spending taxpayers’ money to rebuild prison toilets so Muslim inmates don’t have to face Mecca while using them.


The Islamic religion prohibits Muslims from facing or turning their backs on the Kiblah — the direction of prayer — when they use the toilet, according to the Sun newspaper in London. Muslim inmates complain that they have to sit sideways on prison toilets to comply with that prohibition.


But now jail officials have bowed to pressure from Muslim leaders and agreed to turn toilets 90 degrees at London’s Brixton prison.


Authorities have refused to reveal the cost of the project ..."

[philip691]

WTF!

[Noog]

Curious world isn't it. Sadly, both the Union Jack and the Cross of Saint George (English flag, as apart from the Union of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), though more so with the Cross of St George, have become symbols for some, of racism. This is das because it is a National flag - just because the flag was hijacked by National Front/British National Party racists doesnt mean its a racist flag, it means racist used it out of context. Theres been a re-hab job done on the Union Jack over the last decade or so, but not the Cross, its still associated with racism in some quarters and racists still fly it from house windows/streets - but it is still entirely possible to fly the cross and be proud to live in England and be anti-racist...its a mad world - I mean hell, when England plays football in the European or World cup, flying the cross is done by black and white supporters alike.......

[uk_whitey]

Union Jack supports United Kingdom and St George's Cross supports England. So really St George's cross should be allowed in england based prisons.

[Panderson]

The Cross of St. George is specific to England and is appropriate for International sports. The flag flown on government buildings is the UK flag the Union Jack. It would be no surprise to find that government could decide that it should be removed to appease a minority. They will bend over backwards. No wonder the Days of Empire are a thing of distant history.