Flight ban for anti-Bush T-shirt (1 Viewer)

[Affinity]

A passenger barred from a Qantas airlines flight for wearing a T-shirt depicting US President George Bush as a terrorist has threatened legal action.

Allen Jasson said he was sticking up for the principle of free speech by challenging the decision by the Australian flag carrier.

Mr Jasson was stopped as he was about to board the flight from Melbourne to London last Friday.

Qantas said the T-shirt had potential to offend other passengers.

The T-shift features an image of President George W Bush, along with the slogan "World's Number One Terrorist".

'Principle'

The 55-year-old computer specialist, who lives in London, had encountered difficulties with the same T-shirt on an earlier Qantas flight in December.

After clearing the international security checks at Melbourne Airport, he reportedly approached the gate manager to congratulate him on the company's new-found open-mindedness.

At that point, Mr Jasson was ordered to remove the T-shirt after being told it was a security threat and an item which might cause offence to other passengers.

He was offered the chance to board the flight wearing different clothing, but refused.

"I am not prepared to go without the t-shirt. I might forfeit the fare, but I have made up my mind that I would rather stand up for the principle of free speech," he told Australian media.

A Qantas spokesman defended the airline's decision, saying: "Whether made verbally or on a T-shirt, comments with the potential to offend other customers or threaten the security of a Qantas group aircraft will not be tolerated".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6285971.stm

 

[lengy]

I'm looking for a 'I *silouette of aeroplane flying into WTC* NY' shirt. That'd be awesome. Everytime I see someone wearing a 'I <3 NY' shirt I want that WTC shirt.

 

[HotShot]

LOL , hypocrits.

 

[dieburndie]

I'm looking for a 'I *silouette of aeroplane flying into WTC* NY' shirt. That'd be awesome. Everytime I see someone wearing a 'I <3 NY' shirt I want that WTC shirt.

That shirt is so awesome.
They took it off tshirt hell. It sucks.

 

[Aryanbeauty]

LOL what a sore loser he really is. His name probably is on the list of people banned from flying trans atlantic flight by now ha ha.

 

[lengy]

I wanna design a t-shirt with the Star Of David and the words 'Got Gas?'

 

[Aryanbeauty]

I wanna design a t-shirt with the Star Of David and the words 'Got Gas?'

Do that you will probably get beheaded by some muslims at Dubai airport LOL:rofl: or you can try wearing Muhammad's picture with abomb in his head. See how far you'll go

 

[S1M0]

Do that you will probably get beheaded by some muslims at Dubai airport LOL:rofl: or you can try wearing Muhammad's picture with abomb in his head. See how far you'll go

I dont get that, wouldn't they ALLOW him to pass through if they had an anti-semitic t-shirt like that? Since they don't like israel/jews?

 

[wuddie]

man this is getting outrageous, exactly the thing communism was built under, you cannot oppose the politics of the government by wearing an anti-bush shirt? the next thing you know they'll have a sign on the plane saying 'thank you for no talks of anti-bush'.

 

[littlewing69]

What a jackass. Free speech hahah.

 

[lengy]

So wearing a shirt that says terrorist automatically makes you a terrorist?

 

[Aryanbeauty]

I dont get that, wouldn't they ALLOW him to pass through if they had an anti-semitic t-shirt like that? Since they don't like israel/jews?

They hate anything that has to do with Israeli symbol.

So wearing a shirt that says terrorist automatically makes you a terrorist?

No, he was not branded or accused of terrorism, Qantas said it might upset other passenger and might be offensive to others.