Moroccan Transport Minister, Karim Ghellab denied, here Tuesday allegations that the Morocco's national flag-carrier Royal Air Maroc had issued a notice preventing employees from performing prayers at RAM headquarters.
 
     Allegation that RAM notice "harms the religious beliefs, or  can be perceived as meddling in people's freedoms," are not true, the minister said at the  House of Advisors (upper house) question time. He insisted  that RAM provides the required conditions for its employees  to perform the Friday prayers, in allusion to earlier allegations that the flag-carrier was denying such a service.

    RAM has two prayer rooms where two Imams operate, he said, explaining that it is the line manager who, having taken stock of the impact of the absence of an employee, has the right to grant or deny such an absence.

    On the veil, Ghellab refuted any claims the state-owned airline company tried to deliberately bother female employees wearing it, insisting, however, that the veil was “incompatible with the uniform.”

    As to the fating month of Ramadan, Ghellab recalled that, in accordance with a Fatwa (religious ruling) that dates back to the 70s, pilots are called not to fast, bearing in mind the responsibility they should shoulder and the vigilance they need to show. The minister buttressed his argument with scientific studies, which concluded that fasting has negative impact on the aptitude of pilots.

    Touching on alcohol consumption in the cabin during Ramadan, Ghellab underlined that RAM is required to respect the standards and principles governing the tourism sector, but it refrains from serving alcohol onboard its airliners bound for an Arab or Islamic country.