British Red Cross bans Christmas

2002-12-21 07:22

London - The British Red Cross has ordered a near total ban of Christmas decorations from its charity shops so as not to offend Muslims, a London newspaper reported on Saturday.

"We put up a nativity scene in the window and were told to take it out," Christine Banks, a volunteer at a Red Cross shop in Kent county, southern England, told the Daily Mail tabloid.

"It seems we can't have anything that means Christmas. We're allowed to have some tinsel but that's it... we were told it is because we must not upset Muslims," Banks added.

Confirming the ban at the charity's 430 shops, a spokesperson for the British Red Cross told the paper: "The Red Cross is a neutral organisation and we don't want to be aligned with any political party or particular philosophy.

"We don't want to be seen as a Christian or Islamic or Jewish organisation because that might compromise our ability to work in conflict situations around the world."

The spokesperson added: "In shops people can put up decorations like tinsel or snow which is seasonal. But the guidance is that things representative of Christmas cannot be shown." - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA