As a non 'professional pilot' and not being associated with the aviation industry I wonder if I should even post here? (See another thread in this forum)
However... having lived and worked in most of the Gulf States over the last 20 years I feel able to comment intelligently.
Crash
I suspect that your employers definition of "essential" would be that it IS to THEIR business. As a previous poster has said, refusal may result in termination!
Ali
I suspect that there is as much danger to aircrew as anyone else. Devil's Advocate has pointed out that some 22 unfortunate individuals have lost their lives so there IS a risk.
How great the risk TO EACH INDIVIDUAL is an interesting question and I do not have the background to even guess (any Risk Analysis specialists reading?). However, each of us indulges in activities that involve risk every day, from geting out of bed onwards.
Minimising those risks is a sensible course of action.
As an afterthought Crash, would you consider refusing to operate to Madrid because of the fairly recent bombings there?