I first read about this story on Twitter – it had been noted by the blogger Organica, and then retweeted by Raquel Saraswati. Here is a link to what seems to be the earliest account of events at the swanky Danieli Hotel in Venice.
Briefly, a porter (originally from Egypt) refused to take orders from his female line manager, but agreed to stay on once the hotel arranged for a male mediator to spare him from such indignity. Unfortunately many (not all Muslim, and not all men) don’t like working for female bosses. It’s a pity the porter didn’t take this woman’s most famous employee as an example …
It’s outrageous that this man’s prejudices should be pandered to in this way. And it is not surprising that Muslim women, in particular, should feel affronted by the assumption that women’s rights are to be brushed aside in supposed deference to a non-existent requirement of their religion. This is an affront to all women of course – and to Muslims who neither need nor want this kind of special treatment.
Update: I’ve added a question mark to the title to acknowledge some uncertainty around the facts here.
