'Unclean' guide dog banned by Muslim cab driver

Daily Mail ^ | 10/6/06 | Daily Mail

[World_Events]

A Muslim minicab driver refused to take a blind passenger because her guide dog was "unclean".

Abdul Rasheed Majekodumni told Jane Vernon she could not get into his car with the dog because of his religion.

Islamic tradition warns Muslims against contact with dogs because they are seen as impure.

The case emerged as Jack Straw was embroiled in a controversy over Muslim women wearing veils and the row continued after a Muslim police officer was excused guard duty at the Israeli embassy. Today Mrs Vernon, 39, from Hammersmith, said: "This experience was very upsetting.

"I was tired and cold and just wanted to get home but this driver made me feel like I was a second-class citizen, like I didn't count at all."

Mrs Vernon, who works as a legal officer for the Royal National Institute for the Blind, added: "The owner of the minicab firm, Niven Sinclair, was also very insensitive, telling me that what had happened to me wasn't really very important, and I should have more respect for other people's culture. They have shown very little respect for my rights as a disabled person and have never once offered me an apology."

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Big wup! He should be fired.

I suggest he be bathed in Eau'de B*tch-in-heat and then locked in a kennel with a bunch of Rotties.

Let him find out if one will admit to being mohammed's daddy.

[6SJ7]

There is something really wrong with a religion that hates dogs. Of course they hate most everything else too, so I guess they are at least consistent.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Well that takes all the fun out of it. (for the Rotties and spectators anyway...)

Gosh!

[technomage]

I guess a pet pot bellied pig is out of the question.

Guess I won't worry about any Muslims visiting my ranch!

[MarMema]

Don't we have the ADA for this kind of thing?

[MPJackal]

"The SPCA kennels are exponentially cleaner than the cells of Abu Ghraib and Gitmo."

That is so untrue. Now if you were to say any mooslim home in the middle east I would agree. My dog is far cleaner than most mooslims I have met.

[Northern Alliance]

he way to handle cases like this would be a boycott. After the cartoon crisis in Denmark (you remember that, don't you?), a lot of people ordering taxi services over the phone, mentioned that they are taking their dog along. Even though they don't really own a dog, they mean to make this point: "Don't send me one of your muslim drivers, and if you do, I'll call an other taxi company."

That is very cool - a creative and effective protest method. We need more thinking like that.

[Alfonso1000]

What other than killing innocent people isn't against their religion?

[Right Wing Assault]

I heard it was the other way around. The driver smelled so bad that the dog knew the driver was unclean and refused to get into the cab.

[edpc]

Of course, I meant unclean by the occupant....not the actual physical conditions.

[Biggirl]

If this was to happen in the USA, because of the ADA law, that cabbie would be in violation of that woman's civil rights.

[Mad Dawg]

From the article:
The driver's refusal resulted in a court case because the law requires all licensed cab drivers to carry guide dogs.[He was fond guilty, fined and levied damages.]After the case Mr Majekodunmi remained defiant and insisted that he would continue refusing passengers accompanied by guide dogs.

This seems simple to me: Pull his license. He's stated he intends to break the law, the license is not a right, Q.E.D. What's the problem here?

And, yes, if he doesn't approve of the way the system that gives him an opportunity to be employed work, he is free to go.

---

Ask me about my Bumper Sticker ....

[HiTech RedNeck]

I am curious what blind Muslims do. Since dog is not allowed. Maybe some breed of cat?

[MarkL]

I'd love to see what happened if this sort of thing were to happen in the US... First off, you'd have ADA lawyers lined up around the block to sue the cab company. And of course, the ACLU would be suing, but frankly, I have no idea who they'd sue. My guess is that the ACLU would represent both sides, the blind person, whos civil rights had been violated, and the driver, whos religious rights - the ACLU only protects non-Christian religious rights - had been violated, and somehow figure out how to get the government to pay their legal fees.

Mark

[DH]

I guess that a "rag-head" who goes to the toilet and "pinches it off" and then uses his left hand to clean up the mess is considered CLEAN????????????

[EBH]

Actually, this could work out...

The left has long demanded 'rights' for all kinds of people, so now let them dance around these rights violations.

From alcohol in someone's luggage, to refusing to take a drunk patron home (provide a ride scenario), to refusing to deal with a handicap person...

Our culture, respect for OUR culture demands respect for all persons regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or creed!

[IamConservative]

This cab driver needs the flaming bag of dog crap on his front porch gag. Probably put it out with his left hand.

[Mad Dawg]

guide marmots? guide chickens?

Sheep?

"Hi, this is Rosie, my seeing eye goat."

Sudanese muslims use guide cattle, I'm sure of it. It's the whole African 'cattle are wealth' deal ....