Toilet facilities are being built at London´s Olympic Park so Muslims will not have to face Mecca while sitting on the loo.

The Olympic Delivery Authority has said it wants to produce an ideal venue for people of all cultures, faiths, ages and abilities for the 2012 Games and beyond.

The Islamic religion prohibits Muslims from facing the Kiblah - the direction of prayer - when they visit the lavatory.

More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1061051/Londons-Olympic-Park-toilets-turn-away-Mecca-respect-Islamic-law.html?ITO=1490

*********

Call me stupid, ignorant or respectless but isn´t this a little over the top?

Personally, I think it is a small accomodation.  I don´t think its a really big deal to make the toilets face in a different direction....especially if it saves a lot of hard feelings.....just my thoughts.

Well I guess if the Chinese could sustain from having dog meat on the menu, the toilets in London could be facing the opposite direction  I would like to see a list however of all accomadation requests made to the Olympic committee, I imagine the list is quite long.

Yeah... although I thought "When in Rome, respect the Roman culture!" I think it´s quite an embarassment that the Muslim guests are unable to respect other people´s laws and traditions, but always demand their own to be imposed! Especially knowing that they would NEVER EVER accomodate anyone in their own countries!

An article posted a few years ago about Muslims & the Olympics.  I do wonder about the giant mosque, will they build this?

http://www.bloggernews.net/1935

 I wasn´t able to open the link (cuz my internet connection in my office totally sucks..but that´s another story) so I don´t know....was this a "demand" or was it just the organizing committee trying to be respectful of all people?

 I think a combination of both.  Apparently, they had pressure by faith leadership goverment personnel in a prison awhile back to adjust the toilets.  So, I´m sure they felt the need to do this for the 2012 Olympics. 

I wonder which way the toilets face in Mecca?  Does it matter? I am seriously curious.

I believe based on the article away from the East. 

 My thoughts too!  They need not have said anything and no one would have been none the wiser.  It is just in the design detail.  I am not a great one for bowing to different religions when they come to the UK, but I make an exception for the London2012 as there will be people from all faiths including athiests etc etc here for a short time.  Also, knowing some of the rules that the ODA have put in place whilst the construction work is taking place, this is a minor matter.

I do agree that for such an international event, it is nice to provide different accomodations for people from various places.

I am curious...do all the toilets normally not face mecca?  cuz around these parts...any public facilities may have toilets facing one or two directions based on the amount of toilets provided and then there´s the geographic location of the facilities which might face inumerable directions n s e or w or ne, sw, nw, etc.

so it seems to me that announcing toilets ´not´ facing mekka is more for the announcement/claim itself. 

 +1

 Ã havent even thought about it myself before

Ours here at home is facing macca...what is the big deal...?

STÝLL....its a good gesture..!

to show/prove respect for someone else´s religion or culture is always nice, but ´toilets´? 

 that´s just so odd!

This is something I have never considered before!  I have hastily called a plumber and he will arrive tomorrow morning to re-position my toilet, just on the off-chance of a visiting muslim being offended.

I hope one does not visit before then

 Lock all the doors and pretend you´re not at home today is my advice

 Ahh yes, I do this when thehandsom calls round for tea 

 How sensitive of you, since you are now a Pastafarian!