Yesterday a New York amusement part was temporarily shutdown after a large-scale altercation erupted between Muslim patrons and park rangers over a disagreement on headgear rules. Muslim women in the tour group at Rye Playland in Westchester County were reportedly denied access to several rides because they were wearing hijabs – their traditional headscarves.
“Our headgear policy is designed to protect the safety of patrons and safety is our first concern,” said Deputy Parks Commissioner Peter Tartaglia. “This policy was repeatedly articulated to the tour operator, but unfortunately the message did not reach some of the members of his group.”
According to Tartaglia, the altercation began park officials offered refunds and members of the Muslim group got in a scuffle. Two park rangers were injured when they jumped in to break it up, he said, and were taken to local hospitals. dozens of police vehicles from 9 agencies rushed to the park, where officers arrested 15 people – mostly for disorderly conduct, as the incident involved 30 to 40 people. Other park visitors were not allowed into the park between 4 and 6 p.m. ET, with exit ramps from I-95 closed as well.
The tour group — the Muslim American Society of New York — was at the park to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, an Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.
“Everybody got mad, everybody got upset,” Amr Khater, a Brooklyn resident, told The Journal News. “It’s our holiday. Why would you do this to us?”
Khater said park rangers notified him of the headgear rules upon arrival.
Janet
/ 10/20/2011And another such case causing controversy
Muslim Junior ROTC Student Wants to Wear Head Cover With Uniform
You can wear a Muslim head scarf, and you can wear the uniform of the Junior ROTC. Just not at the same time.
Fox News