Summary: Do you know who Lisa Ashton is? Her story is told in Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Sunday Times, Washington Times... She is the stewardess fired by BMI -British Midland Airways- for refusing to wear the abaya –a type of Burqa- and walk behind her male colleagues while in Saudi Arabia. US Airforce Jetfighter Pilot –first female- Colonel McSally knows so well what Lisa went through. She sued the US Department of Defense and won her fight against this degrading policy. So Military stopped the practice, what about private companies? Lisa’s case went all the way up to European Commission; the new UK Cabinet Minister Owen Paterson supports Lisa in her fight. Also Buckingham Palace has written to Lisa to inform her that the Queen of England has “Taken careful note” of Lisa’s situation and has asked for the details of the case to be passed on to Lord Mandelson who is the Secretary of State of the British Labour Government. Saudi experts and companies that recruit women to work in the country say it is a “myth” that Western women are required to walk behind men. There is no requirement for them to wear the abaya in public, though many do. So what is BMI’s problem? Lisa is also a singer/songwriter. She was nominated finalist in the BBC Radio 2/British Songwriters Academy (Home of the Ivor Novello’s) “New Songwriting Talent Award” under the name Marcelle Ash. Join us to listen to Lisa telling us her story! Watch Lt.Col. Martha McSully's interview with 60 Minutes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTDolvRZZ_Y&feature=player_embedded
