Qantas Airways Denies Boarding to Pax Wearing Bush Terrorist T-Shirt

[Parche]

An Australian who lives in Britain has threatened legal action against Qantas for barring him from a Melbourne-to-London flight wearing a t-shirt depicting US President George W Bush as a terrorist.

Allen Jasson said he was defending freedom of speech through his insistence on wearing the t-shirt.

Jasson, 55, an IT specialist living in London, is staying with his daughter in Melbourne after he was refused entry to the flight to
London at Melbourne Airport on Friday.

Airline staff argued the t-shirt, which bears an image of the US president with the slogan `World's number 1 terrorist', was a security risk or an item likely to upset passengers.

The airline earlier had prevented him from flying to Melbourne for Christmas with relatives on December 2 until he removed the shirt.

Domestic carrier Virgin Blue took the same action when Jasson tried to catch a connecting flight to Adelaide, but on a return flight to Melbourne with Qantas on Friday, he successfully wore the shirt.

Jasson said he cleared international security checks and arrived at the departure lounge in Melbourne for the flight home when he approached the gate manager, congratulated him over Qantas allowing him to wear the shirt and demanded an apology for his earlier treatment.

"I concede that I raised the issue, but I wanted primarily to thank Qantas for relenting when (the gate manager) told me: `I'm surprised you got this far, the staff should have stopped you'," Jasson said.

Jasson said he risked missing his chance of permanent residency if he spent more than two months out of the UK.

But the Adelaide-born former Melbourne resident said he was seeking legal advice to challenge the airline's policy and recover costs.

"To be fair to Qantas, they have said I can take another flight if I don't wear the t-shirt but I am not prepared to go without the t-shirt," he said.

"I might forfeit the ($2,500) fare but I have made up my mind that I would rather stand up for the principle of free speech."

When asked whether the stand was worthwhile, Jasson said: "In Australia today it is very sad that that question has to be asked.

"It's very sad that I find that question has to be asked in Australia. It's a very unhealthy situation and it makes me feel very sad.

"It's one of the reasons that I now live in the UK."

Reading from a prepared statement, a Qantas spokesman said: "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".

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http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/966048

[lonestarnot]

1. I saw this earlier in the week.

[jeff30997]

2. Completely stupid!

I one day I go to Australia I will boycott those idiots!

[LynzM]

3. Talk about a narrow interpretation....

I'd like to see how many other times

"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".

has been used to keep passengers off flights, personally.

[Peace Patriot]

4. Cheers to Allen Jasson! You can take this to court and PROVE that Bush is

a terrorist. He slaughtered a hundred thousand innocent people in the initial bombing of Iraq, according to the British doctors' report. He tortures people, by the hundreds. He kidnaps people and holds them without charge, and without rights, indefinitely. The only thing he knows how to do is kill and harm. Is that not a terrorist?

And so what problem, exactly, does Quantas have with THE TRUTH?

I feel like sending my teddy bear back. Jerks.