Jedi religion founder accuses Tesco of discrimination.

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Jedi religion founder accuses Tesco of discrimination over rules on hoods

Daniel Jones says he was humiliated and victimised for his beliefs following incident at store in Wales


Tesco has been accused of religious discrimination after the company ordered the founder of a Jedi religion to remove his hood or leave a branch of the supermarket in north Wales.

Daniel Jones, founder of the religion inspired by the Star Wars films, says he was humiliated and victimised for his beliefs following the incident at a Tesco store in Bangor.

The 23-year-old, who founded the International Church of Jediism, which has 500,000 followers worldwide, was told the hood flouted store rules.

But the grocery empire struck back, claiming that the three best known Jedi Knights in the Star Wars movies ? Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker ? all appeared in public without their hoods. Jones, from Holyhead, who is known by the Jedi name Morda Hehol, said his religion dictated that he should wear the hood in public places and is considering legal action against the chain.

"It states in our Jedi doctrination that I can wear headwear. It just covers the back of my head," he 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."

He said he'd gone to the store to buy something to eat during his lunch break when staff approached him and ordered him to the checkout where they explained he would have to remove the offending hood or leave the store.

"They said: 'Take it off', and I said: 'No, its part of my religion. It's part of my religious right.' I gave them a Jedi church business card.

"They weren't listening to me and were rude. They had three people around me. It was intimidating." Jones, who has made an official complaint to Tesco, is considering a boycott of the store and is seeking legal advice.

Tesco said: "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."
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Source.

The official church site.

Read the comments; some are pretty funny and witty.
 
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Guardian commenter said:
I wonder if he was in Tesco's to buy a wookie burger. They aren't bad, just a bit chewie.
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That one got a laugh out of me.
 
ow god......

I'ts morons like this who give star wars fans (and sci-fi in general) such a bad name....
 
He started a religion based on a series of MOVIES! I expect that he's no stranger to being humiliated and victimised.
 
Basing a religion on a work of fiction? Where have I seen that before...
 
I've never had problems giving the Vulcan salute to cashiers in Tesco at Pontardawe :p
 
Remember though, the Vulcan salute is done with the palm facing forward.
 
This is one of the best news stories I've ever read.

But some of the comments do raise legitimate questions. Will Tesco ask people of other religions who require head garb to remove them in their stores?
 
It's nice that Tesco have a sense of humour about the whole incident :

Tesco said: "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."
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I'm going to start a church where you have to get pissed and listen to Led Zeppelin. Naked.

Much more fun that playing with wee laser swords and wanking over R2D2
 
YOOOOU shall not PASSSSS!!

Oh wait, wrong movie
 
Only in the UK. Glad to see the store is not just bending over, though.

Anyone here would laugh him out the store. Including the press and police :lol:
 
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Oh dear.

That's all I can think of, just glad Tesco aren't taking this seriously.
 
If you ponder about it, this is likely how some of the earlier followers of Christianity felt during the Roman Empire. And look where they are now...

Don't be surprised if a couple millenia later half of the world's (or the Earth Federation) population are worshiping at the Altar of Yoda.

darth-vader-yoda-r2d2-sand-sculpture.jpg
 
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Backdraft said:
Don't be surprised if a couple millenia later half of the world's (or the Earth Federation) population are worshiping at the alter of Yoda.

*awesome statue*
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That's a religion I'd almost consider actually being religious for.
 
This shows why religion is so dangerous. It not only can tell you to do strange things, but encourages you to stop thinking and to be sacredly cross whenever something goes "wrong".

imagine this:

him "my religion tells me I have to french-kiss evry woman I meet".
her "my religion tells me to slap in the face whoever tries to touch me".
him "but it's my religion! I can not do differently. It's my religious right!".
her "it is MY religion, and this is MY religious right!".

Eventually, I fight will occur. Give it enough time, and one of the two contendants will be killed, with no chances of things ending peacefully whatsoever.


My religion forces me to laugh at every person who sacrifices his/her brain to a habit instead of being master of it.
 
SirEdward said:
This shows why religion is so dangerous. It not only can tell you to do strange things, but encourages you to stop thinking and to be sacredly cross whenever something goes "wrong".

imagine this:

him "my religion tells me I have to french-kiss evry woman I meet".
her "my religion tells me to slap in the face whoever tries to touch me".
him "but it's my religion! I can not do differently. It's my religious right!".
her "it is MY religion, and this is MY religious right!".

Eventually, I fight will occur. Give it enough time, and one of the two contendants will be killed, with no chances of things ending peacefully whatsoever.


My religion forces me to laugh at every person who sacrifices his/her brain to a habit instead of being master of it.
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Exactly, and +1 to you.
 
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