Sorry, couldn't resist.
Posted on 11/02/2006 10:36:17 AM PST by Alouette
A MUSLIM woman was prevented from getting on a bus in Greater Manchester because she would not remove her veil.
The 22-year-old Manchester University student from Oldham says other passengers laughed when the driver refused to let her on because he could not check her identity with her bus pass.
Now the driver's bosses at First Manchester are to meet with their trade association, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), to seek advice on how to deal with the problem if other passengers with photo passes refuse to lift their veils.
Advertisement your story continues below They say they have received no complaint from the woman and have been unable to track down the driver concerned.
The student, who didn't want to be named, tried to board the 59 bus to Oldham.
She said: "The driver asked to see my pass, but it has my photo on and he couldn't see my face.
"I told him I would not remove my veil and he said I couldn't get on."
She is now offering to help the company draw up guidance to drivers.
Situation
She said: "It is understandable because the driver has his duty, although he said it in quite a rude manner. It wasn't nice and other passengers were laughing.
"Bus drivers should be told how to deal with this situation. The veil is my choice and my religious duty. I am willing to go in and help the company so everyone knows what to do."
A First Manchester spokesman said: "We have investigated this incident thoroughly but found no complaint on our system.
"A women has now identified herself as the person in this situation. However, an official complaint was not registered. Under regulations passengers are required to confirm their identity if using a photo bus pass.
"If passengers aren't able to do this they will still be able to travel by paying for their trip."
A CPT spokesman said: "We have not heard of this happening before and as our meeting with First has not been held yet, we can't really talk about it."
One bus driver at Oldham bus station, who didn't want to be named, said: "What are we supposed to do? What is the point of a pass if you can't see someone's face?
"It hasn't happened to me yet but nobody has told me what I should do if it does."
Was the bus driver right not to allow the woman to travel without revealing her identity? Have your say.
Submit your comments
View comments (45 comments. Last comment 02/11/2006 at 16:03)
MUSLIM VEIL
Was bus driver right to refuse bus pass of woman who refused to remove veil?
Yes 92% No 8%
I confess I don't care to do business with them, either. If a clerk in wearing a veil or other Muslim garb, I look for someone else.
I'd say he did just fine. If you religion prohibits you from using a bus pass, then you should be happy to pay each time.
92% Yes, 8% Muslims
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Valid photo ID's are required for passports in every country, including islumic ones.
Some permit hijab that obscures part of the hair, but not the face, otherwise it would not only contravene international passport guidelines, it would be totally pointless.
This woman is probably a second generation RoP agitator with a rose tinted view of what she would be able to get away with in islumic nations, with little knowledge of the oppression and lack of rights she would have in the land of her ancestors - yet she feels inclined to introduce elements of sharia in the west and teach us "filthy kuffar" to bend over and be good dhimmis.
That is the creepiest veiled Muslim picture I have ever seen.
"News like this just makes me happy"
me too mate; 'specially if you live here
Maybe she ought to just go ride a bus in some place like Yemen.
**Sorry, couldn't resist.**
Reminds me of a scene from LOGAN'S RUN.
If she thinks something goes against the teachings of her cult and wants to abide by them, it becomes HER (religious) duty to avoid putting herself in such positions in the first place.
She could have paid in cash to get on the bus, but chose not to.
I suppose the next logical step for her is to make the case that "jihad" is also an obligation under her religion and we need to make allowances for that too.
OF COURSE they can't permit this...!
Well....I was there in September. I arrived shortly after the terror plot was exposed. I don't mind telling you it was pretty unsettling and I only traveled in and out of Bristol Airport.
"So...did she remove her veil to get her picture taken for the ID??"
HA! How about when she eats at "Joey's Hotdogs?"
I'm non-plussed by the affair, although I know my method will not be adopted . . . if your religious beliefs prevent you from taking advantage of a program that offers discounts to passengers who show their faces, then guess what? No discount. Period. Next subject.
Time to take a stand here at home. It is OUR country, not theirs. Photo ID of the face, means you WILL have to show your face. It's not rocket science.
"That is the creepiest veiled Muslim picture I have ever seen."
The closest thing to real zombies.
What color burkah do you wear to a bank robbing?
How did they even get her picture if she won't remove her veil.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.