Jedi faces discrimination @ Tesco

Sun Sep 20, 2009 3:12 am » by **Lowsix**

Dorkdom reaches new high...

Jedi religion founder accuses Tesco
of discrimination over rules on hoods
Daniel Jones says he was humiliated and victimised
for his beliefs following incident at store in Wales

Tesco has been accused of religious discrimination after the company ordered the founder of a Jedi religion to remove his hood or leave a branch of the supermarket in north Wales.

Daniel Jones, founder of the religion inspired by the Star Wars films, says he was humiliated and victimised for his beliefs following the incident at a Tesco store in Bangor.

The 23-year-old, who founded the International Church of Jediism, which has 500,000 followers worldwide, was told the hood flouted store rules.

But the grocery empire struck back, claiming that the three best known Jedi Knights in the Star Wars movies – Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker – all appeared in public without their hoods. Jones, from Holyhead, who is known by the Jedi name Morda Hehol, said his religion dictated that he should wear the hood in public places and is considering legal action against the chain.

"It states in our Jedi doctrination that I can wear headwear. It just covers the back of my head," he said.

"You have a choice of wearing headwear in your home or at work but you have to wear a cover for your head when you are in public."

He said he'd gone to the store to buy something to eat during his lunch break when staff approached him and ordered him to the checkout where they explained he would have to remove the offending hood or leave the store.

"They said: 'Take it off', and I said: 'No, its part of my religion. It's part of my religious right.' I gave them a Jedi church business card.

"They weren't listening to me and were rude. They had three people around me. It was intimidating." Jones, who has made an official complaint to Tesco, is considering a boycott of the store and is seeking legal advice.

Tesco said: "He hasn't been banned. Jedis are very welcome to shop in our stores although we would ask them to remove their hoods.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Luke Skywalker all appeared hoodless without ever going over to the Dark Side and we are only aware of the Emperor as one who never removed his hood.

"If Jedi walk around our stores with their hoods on, they'll miss lots of special offers."

Sun Sep 20, 2009 3:24 am » by **Vulcanic**

Sun Sep 20, 2009 3:42 am » by **Newearthman**

Do not under estemate the power of the dark side

Sun Sep 20, 2009 3:49 am » by **Vulcanic**

newearthman wrote:Do not under estemate the power of the dark side

Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:48 am » by **Buhdoo**

There's a fine line between having a laugh and just complaining for the friggin sake of it!

To think now there are people walking this earth who think jedi are real.. and we here battle for disclosure lol

There are bigger issues to tackle.. like people with a severe lack of reality..

Wait a minute.. on the otherhand.. aye lets go for disclosure and worry about these dicks later..

Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:18 am » by **Daemonfoe**

@lowsix, I get it.

Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:32 am » by **Seahawk100**

vulcanic wrote::flop:

Avid Abbott and Costello, and Star Wars fan. That was priceless.

Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:40 am » by **Seahawk100**

I like Chad Vader, myself. The Jedi wouldn't do very well at Darth's store either.

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Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:46 am » by **Hashtoker**

I want to laugh at this.. but i also want to go train as a lawyer and have tesco's on basic human rights errr....stuff

Human Rights Act 1998:

Article 9 Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

1 Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

2 Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Article 10 Freedom of expression

1 Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This Article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.

2 The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.

Article 14 Prohibition of discrimination

The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.

Source: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/uk ... 80042_en_3

Sun Sep 20, 2009 6:47 am » by **Lowsix**

All establishments
RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE.

dorkballs included..
which makes it that much more funny.