Beware of the shoe racket at the airport
Posted on July 22nd, 2012
Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai
My brother who was waiting at the Katunayake International airport for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ his flight to Qatar, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ went to the prayer area to pray. There he left his brand new shoes at the shelf outside the prayer area but when he returned after prayers only one shoe was found- the other was missing. Since he happened to know ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ an officer he complained to him who asked the laborers around about it. One laborer ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ said he found a shoe far away near a shop and went and brought it. When my brother was contemplating paying him for his help, another person who happened to be around said he too hadƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ an exactly same experience. Coincidence? Are they hoping the traveler will leave their shoe so that they can make a quick buck out of or are they doing this hoping to getƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ paid for ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-findingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ the shoe? How did the shoe go so far away? And even if it was there why didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t the laborer report it? ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Or was it a genuine case of helping a traveler? Too many questions.
Anyway beware of the racket if there is one. Our country has stooped down to such a low level one cannot leave the shoes at a sacred place. What a shame!
July 22nd, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Why don’t allah punish these thieves who try to defraud devotees who go to worship??
July 22nd, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Our country has stooped to such a LOW LEVEL that SOME people pray to alien gods at the airport who were NEVER known in this island 1,500 years ago!!
What a damn shame!
July 22nd, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Lorenzo, Did Allah where shoes? No what they forgot was the wash basin to wash the feet and hands. When this was built Allah told the builders about the water basin. Latest news says Dr. Marina has a shoe shop at the air port and if some one looses a shoe her shop will get it for a nominal fee. How many Allah’s go through the air port every day at this time of the year? over 1000. Lets say Rs 5 a shoe multiply by thousand equal Rs 5000. not a bad deal
July 22nd, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Actually there is a bigger underworld operation here.
What is Asia’s largest narcotics producer? Afghanistan – 100% Islamic. What is Asia’s main narcotics transit countries? Pakistan and Saudi. World’s LARGEST drug buyers and drug sellers meet in Saudi in Haj and Ramadan. This is very well documented and anyone can learn about it by a simple search. Due to religious issues dogs are not used at any airports including the SL airport to test the arrivals for narcotics especially during Haj/Ramadan times. Hiding drugs in shoes is the common practice of those who meet the Afghan druglords, buy the stuff and bring them to SL.
When the drug stuffed shoes are left at the mosque, the retailers who also patronise the same mosque come and replace it with other shoes. They have their way out so the transit person is without any evidence. He gets paid then and there.
Of course the “free dates” Saudi “donates” to SL is stuffed with drugs. They are unpacked in Maligawatte and the drug dealers get their stuff while the remainder is sold to shops or given away for break fast.
Police and customs officers know this very well. They are prevented from taking ANY action by politicians. The Justice Minister is from the SLMC!! So what surprise there!!
July 22nd, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Even in Sri Lanka, some of the Kudu-mudalalis in Colombo are Muslims I suppose.
For me, Sri Lanka is very much like Saudi Arabia.
Which islamic country in the world, allow muslims to blast speakers because they want to prey. Which Islamic country’s airport allows a temple for Buddhists if they want to do any thing buddhist. that is not the end.
I am worried about my country which I will definitely lose because Muslims are there with an objective.
We don’t like killing animals. But, why don’t they stop killing animals in order to accommodate us ?
July 22nd, 2012 at 8:21 pm
“Our country has stooped down to such a low level one cannot leave the shoes at a sacred place. What a shame!”
I was in Qatar recently. In a major shopping centre bearing signs of “No Smoking” , Allah’s men wearing the white gown keeps on smoking irritating all others ! So called richest country in the world has so many road traps due to construction activities without any safety at all, to same quality to Sri lanka. What a shame !
July 23rd, 2012 at 12:26 am
Dear Friends! Please don’t insult other religions and other’s believed. No religion is perfect and any one can criticise any religion. But as a multi religious country we Sri Lankans believe Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Muslim, Sai Baba, Bhai etc. Also there are some atheists.
If we listen what Mrs Reffai says it should not happen at the international Air Port? CTV cameras can monitor who are the culprits and has to punish them. As long as Colombo Airport has a praying room those prayers has a right to use it.
July 23rd, 2012 at 1:55 am
Cinderella became so fascinating because of a single shoe. There are shoecide bombers on board flights. President George Bush displayed admirable sang-froid during the incident of a pair of shoes being thrown at him in Iraq. Someone was crying for not having shoes but he saw a man walking without legs. Somebody exclaimed, “You said you are the king of Jews but I can’t see you wear any sheos”
Leave that poor lady doctor, and don’t denounce other religions. She always entertians Lanka Web readers.
July 23rd, 2012 at 3:47 am
Stating facts is not insulting.
Mohomad married a 8 year old Arabic girl. Is it just? He married more than one woman at a time. Is it justified? He killed people. Fought wars. Is it justified? He tolerated no other views. Is it justified?
Don’t blindly follow paedophiles, war mongers and polygamists. Example is better than preaching. Unfortunately he set a very bad example which is copied by other Muslims.
Conduct of Muslims and all Muslim countries is shameful. Look at Sri Lanka. Muslim ministers attack judges in the name of Islam. Is it a religion or a bad cult? Allah (PBUH) has given everyone a brain to think not to accept anything told by anyone. The problem is not Allah (PBUH) but Mohomad. Allah (PBUH) never told Mohomad to do all the bad things he did.
July 23rd, 2012 at 8:21 am
I had a very UGLY SEEN once when I visited Sri Lanka and returning.At the Airport TOILET,I SAW AN UGLY MUSLIM WASHING HIS DIRTY LEGS DIPPING INTO THE WASH BASIN.What an insult these DIRTY MUSLIMS BRING TO SRI LANKA?They must be WARNED NOT TO DO SUCH DIRTY ACTS and Airport authorities must educate their officials to avoid such incidents.
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:21 am
Mareena seems to be attracting a lot more comments than anyone else in this forum. Mareena please don’t get upset by some comments here. Keep entertaining us please. Have you not written to the president about these unsatisfactorynesses yet.
July 23rd, 2012 at 1:31 pm
In spite of varied comments being posted by her critics and detractors, the biggest plus point that I have noticed in her is; Mareena has always come up with a novel thought in high spirits in her next write-up. And I admire her for it. I must also say without her writings, lankaweb will be like a hotel with no parippu. So keep it up and don’t you give up Mareena.
Indecently, since a lot of commentators here accuse the founder of Islam a pedophile, you being a lady and more of a doctor, would you please elucidate us of your opinion on women and their position in Islam. Thank you, Leela.
July 23rd, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Leela,
If you had read this womans’ previous writings you got the answer !
If the Saudis drive nails into a woman’s body as a punishment, it is woman’s fault !
If a poor woman leves her husband and goes to middle east to earn some money , it is woman’s fault if she is abused !
This is the Mareen’s Theory ! Saudi the gretest- Lanka all wrong !
July 24th, 2012 at 11:49 pm
HAJI Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai
My brothers and Friends do not go to K IA , So are the most of our people .
It is not a big problem,
My grad mother went on a pilgrimage to india without shoes or [sandals].
do not worry,
AND JUST TELL YOUR PRAYING GUYS TO WASH THE SLIPPERS FIRST, BECAUSE I KNOW AND SEEN THAT IN SAUDUI ARABIA, THOSE DUMB ASSES WASH THEIR FEET ON WASH BASINS ,
TAKING THE FEET ABOVE THE HEAD.[ THAT IS BACK BREAKING TASKS TO TAKE FEET IN TO THE WASH BASIN] .
AND KEEP THAT FEETAGAIN ON THE UNWASHED SLIPPERS OR SANDALS.
OH OH OH OH OH . PLS EDUCATE THEM
July 25th, 2012 at 12:12 am
TO LEELA,
GO TO KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, THEN YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE POSITIONS OF WOMEN IN ISLAM.
THIS IS NOT TO INSULT TO ISLAM ,YOU OR MAREENA,
BUT, THOSE ARE NOT ISOLATED CASES EITHER.
BUT DAY TO DAY HAPPENINGS .
I HAVE SEEN SO MANY WOMEN COMING TO JEDDAH HOSPITAL,WHERE I WORKED, WITH BLEEDING FROM XXXXX AND XXX.
THE PAKISTANI DOCTOR SHOUT AT THEM AND THEIR GOD FEARING HUSBANDS,
YELLING , “” YOU BARBARIANS,””.
SO YOU ARE ASKING MAREENA TO “”would you please elucidate us of your opinion on women and their position in Islam””.
SHE CAN NOT TELL OR ELUCIDATE YOU WITH OPINION OR THEIR POSITIONS IN ISLAM.
AFTER GOING TO SAUDI ARABIA, YOU WILL GET FIRST HAND EXPERIENCES ON OPINIONS AND POSITIONS ON WOMEN IN ISLAM OR ANY.
July 25th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
This is another bloody Ramadan with wars increasing in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Libya, Iraq and now Iran threatens to bomb Saudi and Qatar over helping Al Qaeda in Syria. Russian and US warships are getting ready to land troops in Syria and possibly attack Iran.
First of all Muslims should stop KILLING EACH OTHER.
If they can’t do that Islam is a FAILURE.
In WW1 and WW2 Christians killed each other. Now its the Muslims. From the others’ side, there is NO NEED to stop them killing each other!!