The plight of a High Wycombe Muslim family who were served bacon while in hotel quarantine has been raised in the House of Commons by MP Steve Baker, who said he was “alarmed” to hear about the incident.
Saliah Mahmood told the Bucks Free Press it was “disgusting” the way her family, all from High Wycombe, had been treated in quarantine at the Holiday Inn Heathrow Bath Road, near the airport.
Then for two days they say, despite telling the hotel they were Muslim and would be observing Ramadan, no meals were served at both sunset or sunrise.
Wycombe MP Steve Baker said he was “alarmed” to have read about the plight of his constituents and raised it in Parliament with MP Jo Churchill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care.
On April 26, he said: “Quite apart from the expense, my British Muslim constituents from Wycombe —one family in particular—who found themselves in a hotel were served bacon.
“That is obviously not halal food, and they found it difficult to get halal food. This of course is Ramadan, and they found it was difficult to be fed at the appropriate times for Ramadan.
“Will the minister confirm that this is not the government’s policy, and that the hotel should be doing much better for people at this time?”
ALSO READ: Ricky Gervais pictured filming series 3 of Netflix show After Life at popular Bucks pub
Ms Churchill responded to say it was “incumbent” on hotels to support Muslim guests during their time there, “but particularly at this time of Ramadan to be aware of their needs”.
She said: “Hotels will arrange for halal and vegetarian options to ensure that people’s needs are catered for, and if they are observing fasting during Ramadan, hotels will arrange to provide meals at suhoor and at iftar.
“They are also quite happy to support individuals who want to take their tests at an appropriate time of day as well—once fasting is broken, for example—and to provide extra clean towels in order to pray.
“I would be happy to speak to [Mr Baker] afterwards and make sure that we can raise these matters immediately.
ALSO READ: Bank Holiday forecast: Are we set for a sunny weekend in Bucks?
“However, I would urge his constituents and anybody else who is failing to get their requirements met to raise the matter, because it is important that we deal with them when people are in managed quarantine.
“This is a service, and our aim is to make it easy as possible for individuals.”
The hotel previously said they were unable to share any comment as the approach to quarantine and hotel selection is a matter for the Department of Health and Social Care and also would not comment on individual bookings due to guest confidentiality.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel