Supermarket staff wearing a keffiyeh

[Alpaccas]

I saw a member of staff wearing a keffiyeh today in Sainsbury’s. Do you think it’s a bit too political for a member of staff to be wearing, whilst wearing their work uniform?

This is racist, bad faith posting.
Watch it not get deleted though in the name of 'educating people'.

"Clearly not cultural".

Keffiyeh have been worn throughout the ME for centuries. Do you know what every ME person looks like? Did you know that blonde, blue-eyed Arabs exist?

ITS RAMADAN.

But surely there is a signifint difference to any of us (British citizens) wearing anything that pertains to Christianity whilst in the UK (as we live in an United Kingdom which is still officially considered to be a Christian Country) and people recently - for the last century, or thereabouts - emigrating to this Country, but not assimilating themselves to a British way of life?

I believe that there are various - even many - Islamically ruled countries, where if a Christian were to insist on wearing anything that might be considered to be promoting any of the different branches of the Christian faith, that individual could expect to be targeted, imprisoned (probably on some made-up charge), or even worse. Why is it always us who have to temper, or even give up, our religious and/or cultural practices?

So, why is the UK such an open, welcoming and forgiving nation to people from all over the world, with many different religions and cultures (and yes, we still do uphold, at least officially, all of those Christian beliefs), when very few countries in the world would give us the same courtesies?

I saw a Tesco employee wearing a gold crucifix. Didn’t let it bother me. Suggest you do the same.

As a woman who comes from a Jewish family I will support Palestine until my dying day. What human can look at the facts, figures and the information that’s out there and not be broken hearted for the Palestinians? We are watching the slaughter of children, an actual genocide play out and people are up in arms about entirely the wrong thing.

I don't support the extermination of any children, anywhere in the world.

How was it clearly political?

This. Have you literally nothing else to think about OP?

I've just taken my third dose of morphine in 12 hours because I need spine surgery but can't get it for a year. I would love to be you OP just looking for something to get pissed off about. It wouldn't even register with me and that's for the best.

You cannot possibly know its being worn as a political statement. That is in the eye of the beholder. Get a grip.

This is an awful thing to say.

Crikey - you must have a lot of time on your hands

Do you believe Musk and Bannon were doing Nazi salutes or did you downplay it as ‘excitable arm waving’?

I’ve noticed a pattern where someone seen as ‘left’ can be condemned for doing something potentially questionable/insensitive but relatively benign. Whereas someone on the far right can borderline goose step and seig heil and it’s crickets and tumbleweed from the same people fainting because a student shelf stacking on the weekend is wearing a Palestinian scarf.

This is the same as how Trump supports Musk, Proud Boys etc but is threatening American universities who’s students engage in peaceful marches.

“You cannot tell if it is a man or woman wearing it”- what on earth

So, why is the UK such an open, welcoming and forgiving nation to people from all over the world, with many different religions and cultures (and yes, we still do uphold, at least officially, all of those Christian beliefs), when very few countries in the world would give us the same courtesies?

It's called 'a democracy'.

Not sure how all the other countries felt about colonialism a couple of hundred years ago. Perhaps England/the UK wasn't soooo great then.

I’m pretty sure very few people on here could answer that question with any real authority and understanding. A lot of people will have an opinion but it would mostly likely be based on ignorance. But I think you know this.
Are you a practicing Christian? If so, do you believe that yours is the only true faith? Because if you do, you are no different to believers of other faiths. So, setting yourself out as different and ‘better’ is a load of old hogwash.

Why make accommodations for religion and not for political reasons?

No issue with anyone wearing kippah or hijab either. Niqab and Burqa make me uncomfortable.

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable, OP.

Keffiyeh {Or those checked scarves} as we used to call them were sold everywhere in street markets for decades.

If you want the REAL ones, Made in Palestine, rather than China,

There is only one maker left in Palestine. ''Hirbawi''.

I have no problem with people who have empathy for others, especially those undergoing a genocide - so it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. I’m more bothered by the countless children being killed, maimed and orphaned in Palestine right now, quite honestly. Maybe use some of your outrage for them instead OP.

I don’t care what people are wearing in Sainsbury’s

You do not know the function of their mind. You can't possibly declare thar it's political without having discussed it with them. Personally, I'd mind my own business. If HR have an issue with it they can deal with it but I wouldn't be highlighting it.

I would not be happy seeing one in store. It’s not religious (like a hijab or a cross) and having seen students at King’s College wearing them as balaclavas and aggressively screaming (where I was personally quite scared) :
‘Jews are parasites and Allah not Aliyah’, I’d be making a complaint to not only the store manager but also head office. It is a political statement relating to the Palestine and Israel conflict. People can wear what they like when finished but I don’t think should be on work time.

Take a look at this regarding the Palestinian conflict and you can see how quickly political causes can escalate:
Antisemitic abuse rises within NHS and staff are the ‘worst culprits’

www.thetimes.com/article/eddcb84c-d5d3-4bf0-9fda-21790715fdde?shareToken=84e56986163d85a667ced86adc1adce2

How do you know he was Palestinian? Did you ask him or did you think "nope I'll run to Mumsnet and post a racist thread and hide it behind faux sympathy".

Men and boys having been wearing them in the Middle East for centuries. It's Ramadan. He may have even had a prayer cap as it was Friday he could have been going to mosque for Friday prayers after work.

Do you have the same outrage over the hijab?

Exactly. My husband has one. He's had it for donkey's years.

Was their face covered up?

First time poster and something islamophobic again?

How funny, my first assumptions would be that they've been traveling, and that working in supermarkets can be chilly, but also possibly they're Palestinian.