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Sep 22, 2009
Jedi thrown out of store
Characters wearing robes and wielding lighsabers take to the stage to promote Star Wars The Old Republic at the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) on June 1, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. According to the rules of the Jedi church, members should wear a hood in public places. -- PHOTO: AFP
THE founder of a religion inspired by the Star Wars films was thrown out of a supermarket for refusing to remove his hood, AOL reported on Tuesday.
Daniel Jones, head of the 500,000-strong International Church of Jediism, was asked to leave the Tesco supermarket in Bangor, North Wales as his attire was deemed to be in violation of Tesco's rules, which forbid the wearing of 'hoodies' while in the supermarket.
Mr Jones, who also goes by the Jedi name Morda Hehol, claimed he was 'victimised over his beliefs' and left 'emotionally humiliated' when staff deemed him a security risk and told him to leave.
He told The Daily Telegraph: 'I told them it was a requirement of my religion but they just sniggered and ordered me to leave.'
According to the rules of the Jedi church, members should wear a hood in public places. 'It states in our Jedi doctrination that I can wear headwear. It just covers the back of my head,' Mr Jones 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.'
Mr Jones said he had gone to the store to buy something to eat, and gave staff a Jedi church business card when they stopped him about his hood.
'It was discrimination. They were making a joke against me. I was really upset. Nobody should be treated like that,' he said. He has made a complaint to Tesco and is seeking legal advice. Mr Jones also hinted of a threat should the ban continue. 'I'll advise worshippers to boycott Tesco if it happens again. They will feel the Force.'
The Telegraph reported that a Tesco spokesman defended the store's actions, saying: '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.'
Home > Breaking News > World > Story
Sep 22, 2009
Jedi thrown out of store
Characters wearing robes and wielding lighsabers take to the stage to promote Star Wars The Old Republic at the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) on June 1, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. According to the rules of the Jedi church, members should wear a hood in public places. -- PHOTO: AFP
THE founder of a religion inspired by the Star Wars films was thrown out of a supermarket for refusing to remove his hood, AOL reported on Tuesday.
Daniel Jones, head of the 500,000-strong International Church of Jediism, was asked to leave the Tesco supermarket in Bangor, North Wales as his attire was deemed to be in violation of Tesco's rules, which forbid the wearing of 'hoodies' while in the supermarket.
Mr Jones, who also goes by the Jedi name Morda Hehol, claimed he was 'victimised over his beliefs' and left 'emotionally humiliated' when staff deemed him a security risk and told him to leave.
He told The Daily Telegraph: 'I told them it was a requirement of my religion but they just sniggered and ordered me to leave.'
According to the rules of the Jedi church, members should wear a hood in public places. 'It states in our Jedi doctrination that I can wear headwear. It just covers the back of my head,' Mr Jones 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.'
Mr Jones said he had gone to the store to buy something to eat, and gave staff a Jedi church business card when they stopped him about his hood.
'It was discrimination. They were making a joke against me. I was really upset. Nobody should be treated like that,' he said. He has made a complaint to Tesco and is seeking legal advice. Mr Jones also hinted of a threat should the ban continue. 'I'll advise worshippers to boycott Tesco if it happens again. They will feel the Force.'
The Telegraph reported that a Tesco spokesman defended the store's actions, saying: '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.'
