When he launched the lawsuit in September 1999, Chernack alleged he was ordered to stop praying at the back of the plane about two hours before the scheduled 7:30 a.m. arrival in Paris. Describing himself as an observant Jew, Chernack said he was proceeding with his prayers - which necessitated the wearing of a prayer shawl and phylacteries (black square cases containing parchments inscribed with biblical messages) - "in a barely audible and unobtrusive fashion" when he was approached by the chief steward.
The steward, identified in court papers as Joël Corneloup, is said to have told Chernack in French: "This is an airplane and not a place for occult practices; return to your seat immediately."
... The defendants acknowledged in a December 1999 statement that Chernack was asked to return to his seat, but that it was in order to follow company safety policy about keeping passageways clear. They also argued that Quebec courts don't have jurisdiction in the case since the incident occurred outside Canadian territory on an aircraft registered in France with an employee who is a French citizen.
This happens to other religious groups, particularly Muslims. I will explain more soon, when my article on Muslim civil rights is ready...
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