Kuwait Airways Can Refuse Service To Israelis, German Court Rules.

A German court ruled Kuwait Airway's decision 

was not illegal (Getty Images) / Getty Images

Passenger's lawyer says decision is 'capitulating to anti-Semitic discrimination'

Kuwait Airways is not obliged to transport Israeli passengers, a German court has ruled.

The verdict - delivered over a case in which the airline cancelled a passenger's ticket - has led to accusations of anti-Semitism.

The passenger, known only as Adar M, was travelling from Frankfurt to Bangkok when Kuwait Airways cancelled his ticket. But the court, in Frankfurt, ruled that the airline was merely respecting Kuwaiti law, and that it would have faced legal repercussions in its home country had it flown him to his destination. 

As reported in Die Welt this week, German law covers discrimination based on race, ethnicity or religion, but not nationality. As of 2006, the law stipulates: "With effect as of 18th August 2006 the German General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) came into force. Objective of the law is to provide comprehensive protection against discrimination on the basis of race and ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation."

By Ronan J O’Shea.

Full story at Independent.