Canada: Tribunal to rule on guide dog vs. religion (Muslim cabbie refused service to infidel w/ dog)

North Shore News (Vancouver B.C.) ^ | November 15, 2006 | Jane Seyd

[Stoat]

Tribunal to rule on guide dog vs. religion

Jane Seyd

jseyd@nsnews.com

A case potentially pitting rights of the disabled against religious beliefs will be heard by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal after a blind man from the North Shore who uses a guide dog to get around launched a complaint against North Shore Taxi.

Bruce Gilmour filed the complaint after a cab driver from North Shore Taxi refused to let his guide dog into the cab in January of this year. Gilmour, who says it's not the first time he's been refused service by a taxicab, is complaining that North Shore taxi discriminated against him on the basis of physical disability.

But the taxi driver, Behzad Saidy, is arguing his Muslim religious beliefs will not allow him to take dogs in his taxi, because Muslims can't associate with dogs.

According to documents filed with the Human Rights Tribunal, North Shore Taxi said about half of their drivers are "unable to take animals in their taxis due to medical or religious reasons."

The taxi company asked the human rights tribunal to toss the case against it out. But tribunal member Lindsay Lyster ruled recently it is important that the case be heard, saying the case presents "important and difficult issues" for the tribunal to resolve including both the rights of blind people to equal services and the rights of employees to have their religious beliefs accommodated.

The taxi company says another driver was sent out to get Gilmour right after the first driver refused to let the guide dog in the car.

Gilmour and the taxi driver disagree on what was said about the dog at the time.

Saidy has told the Human Rights Tribunal he told Gilmour at the time that he was refusing because of religious beliefs.

But Gilmour's lawyer Nazeer Mitha said all the driver said to Gilmour was, "No dogs, no dogs," before driving away. The first Gilmour heard about religious objections was after he filed a formal complaint, said Mitha.

Since then, the taxi driver has filed a statement from a Muslim cleric stating that Islam has some restrictions towards certain animals, including dogs.

But Mitha says Gilmour has also filed a statement from a different Muslim cleric, stating that there can be exceptions to blanket refusals to deal with dogs, especially if it means helping someone in need. Mitha said all that would be required in most circumstances would be for a Muslim person to wash their hands before eating if they have been in contact with a dog.

"That's not a terrible task to go through," he said.

Lyster said the case is made more complicated by the fact that "different Islamic people may hold different beliefs about appropriate conduct in relation to dogs."

Mitha says it's not the first time Gilmour's been refused service by taxi drivers because of his guide dog. "It happens to him very frequently," both on the North Shore and elsewhere, he said.

Mitha said the real reason this happens probably doesn't have anything to do with religion. "People don't want dogs in their cabs," he said. Under legislation, however, cab drivers must be willing to take certified assistance dogs.

North Shore taxi and company lawyer William McLachlan refused to comment further on the case.

The Human Rights Tribunal hearing is scheduled for next summer.

[Stoat]

He would never get away with that in a Houston cab. It's common knowledge what "family" owns Yellow cab here.

Even if that were not the case, I'm guessing that the good people of Texas wouldn't put up with it either. I will choose Texans over Canadians as neighbors any day of the week   :-)

[EnochPowellWasRight]

"C'mon - it could be lots of fun!!!"

Five words:

Big Bag Of Pork Rinds

[muawiyah]

Retirees and Californians hate neckties too.

[Stoat]

because Muslims can't associate with dogs.

And pigs

And uncovered women

And alchohol

And anyone of any religion other than Islam

And other Muslims of different sects

And..........................

They won't be getting any Congeniality Awards from me anytime soon.

because Muslims can't associate with dogs.

And pigs

And uncovered women

And alchohol

And anyone of any religion other than Islam

And other Muslims of different sects

And..........................

[doc1019]

Now that is a GREAT idea. I’m beginning to see Korans in the nightstands next to the Bible in many motels and hotels lately; I have often wondered what to do about this abhorrent situation. Now I know … ham filled Korans, in cabs! Thanks for the idea.

[VOA]

Retirees and Californians hate neckties too.

Yes (and so do I!).

But I don't think these groups go about trying to enforce this thought
on the rest of the population!
While trying to acquire nuclear weapons (as in the case of the President of Iran).

[rawcatslyentist]

>"if it means helping someone in need. Mitha said all that would be required in most circumstances would be for a Muslim person to wash their hands before eating if they have been in contact with a dog.

"That's not a terrible task to go through," he said. "

How would we know? We don't believe in their stoopid stone age murder cult.

Maybe muuuhamhead (Pigs be inseminating her) had a hand washing phobia.

[Dov in Houston]

Not funny.

When I was a teenager I was at a friends and eating some chips etc. I chewed on this thing that I thought was pretty good and asked "Whats this thing called ?" and he said it's a "PigSkin"

I asked "Why do they call it that ?"

And he answered truthfully. I try to stay Kosher but sometimes I don't do it too good.

Yuppers a Big Bag of Pork Rinds would be real good for the cabbies.

[Stoat]

I got better idea just fire this bozo

He doesn't like it TOUGH S***T

Apparently he is not in violation of this cab company's rules.  From the article:

 

The taxi company says another driver was sent out to get Gilmour right after the first driver refused to let the guide dog in the car.

and

According to documents filed with the Human Rights Tribunal, North Shore Taxi said about half of their drivers are "unable to take animals in their taxis due to medical or religious reasons."

This taxi company appears to be perfectly happy to force disabled and handicapped people to wait out on the street while a second taxi is called.

[ccmay]

Anyone who wishes to speak directly to North Shore Taxi can easily do so:

Wouldn't it be a shame if their drivers got called out on some snipe hunts? I'm just sayin'...

-ccm

[muawiyah]

I could use some new nukes ~

[muawiyah]

It's kind of the other way around. These guys go in for ceremonial handwashing ~ no water!

[SevenofNine]

What wrong with this cab company hiring people like that
I am sorry I am tick off

If they don't like go into another business

[Stoat]

That is a great idea. Gets more customers and keeps muslims out of cabs. ROFLMAO

hehe!  It would also expand the increasingly-necessary pig and hog farming industry.

We should lobby for a national Hog Farmer Appreciation Day or a "Have you hugged your neighborhood hog farmer lately?" campaign    :-)

[doc1019]

Yep, yet another great idea in my personal war against the ROP cab drivers. Thanks!

[Stoat]

This should really throw the liberals into a tailspin. Do they defend the handicapped of the terrorists? And what about the animal rights people? Think of the poor dogs feelings....

They will side with the terrorists because then they can play the race card as well as the anti-America card at the same time.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Saudi Arabian religious police recently banned the sale of dogs and cats:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,212980,00.html

"One bad habit spreading among our youths is the acquisition of dogs and showing them off in the streets and malls," wrote Aleetha al-Jihani in a letter to Al-Madina newspaper. "There's no doubt that such a matter makes one shudder."

"Then what's the point of dragging a dog behind you?" he added. "This is blind emulation of the infidels."

[Cobra64]

[Cobra64]

Maybe cats?

(wait for the flush)

[Stoat]

But the taxi driver, Behzad Saidy, is arguing his Muslim religious beliefs will not allow him to take dogs in his taxi, because Muslims can't associate with dogs.

Sounds reasonable, mohammed just can't afford any competiton from another son of a b*tch.

hehehe!  Islam is obviously a "make it up as you go" religion that allows it's adherents to pretty much say and do anything that they want.

This cabbie needs to be bitch-slapped around the block sixty or seventy times.