There has been a simmering controversy here in Minneapolis St. Paul regarding Muslim taxi drivers. Many taxi drivers are Somali Muslims and they have been refusing to carry passengers who have alcohal or guide dogs. The Airports Commission is threatening to crack down on them. Is this a matter of imposing on religious freedom? http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1029753.html Taxi proposal gets sharp response Muslim cabdrivers say that tougher penalties for refusing riders would deny them religious freedom. By John Reinan, Star Tribune Last update: February 27, 2007 – 9:25 PM Religion and alcohol sparked a sharp debate Tuesday as the Metropolitan Airports Commission considered a crackdown on Muslim taxi drivers who deny service to passengers carrying liquor. During a hearing that lasted most of the afternoon and into the evening, commissioners heard testimony on a proposed ordinance that would impose harsher penalties on cabdrivers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport who refuse fares for religious or other reasons. Commission staffers said tougher penalties are needed to ensure reliable cab service at the airport. "Our stance is first come, first served," said airport director Steve Wareham. "The message is if you want to drive a taxicab at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, you will serve all customers." Many cabbies disagreed, saying that the proposal denies them the right to freely practice their religion. "This is discrimination," proclaimed Ahmed Shine, a taxi driver for seven years. Abdifatah Abdi, who said he was speaking for an association of cabdrivers, said the commissioners "will be judged on your decision."You are deciding the livelihood of 600 drivers and their families," Abdi said. "Say no to discrimination. Say yes to justice for the weak." About 100 people are denied cab service each month at the airport, many by drivers who refuse to transport alcohol in their cabs. Roughly three-quarters of the 900 taxi drivers at the airport are Somali, many of them Muslims. Last year, the MAC received a fatwa, or religious edict, from the Minnesota chapter of the Muslim American Society. The fatwa said that "Islamic jurisprudence" prohibits taxi drivers from carrying passengers with alcohol "because it involves cooperating in sin according to Islam." At the back of the Bloomington hotel ballroom that hosted the hearing, four large, hand-painted signs stood on easels. "Separation of Mosque & Airport," read one. They were the work of Douglas Bass, a St. Paul software professional who said he considers the taxi debate "a small skirmish in a much larger conflict."What this is doing is forcing the larger community to adopt the norms and culture of a much smaller community," he said. "We're not trying to force them to practice any religion. I just ask the same freedom of them." A group of blind Minnesotans was on hand, too, testifying about taxi drivers who refused to transport their guide dogs because Muslims consider the saliva of dogs unclean. A well-known St. Paul imam, Hassan Mohamud, called that a misinterpretation of Islam and said it shouldn't be a problem. Several drivers spoke strongly against anyone who would refuse to let a guide dog in his cab. John Reinan • 612-673-7402 • jreinan@startribune.com
I'm sorry, but if you're a taxi driver, you should pick everyone up. Pure and simple, if it messes with your religious belief, then consider finding another job. If someone is inebriated, chances are they REALLY REALLY need a taxi. What good does it do if you force a drunk to get behind the wheel cuz he couldnt get a taxi? EDIT: I read that wrong. So its just for people carrying alcohol, not drunks? regardless, taxi driver first rule should always be to pick anyone up.
Well, they can't have four wives here either. So I think they should serve the alcohol carrying passengers.
They should consider another line of work, if you do not want to carry people who does not agree with your religion, join McDonlds! Oh, they serve pork sometimes!
It goes both ways. They can't claim discrimination when they are discriminating against possible customers for not adhering to their morals. Religion and business don't mix.
Wait. if a person chooses not to pickup someone and make money, that should be his damn choice. If I was driving a taxi, and some smelly bum wet bum would try to get in, id say no, simply coz it wouldnt be worth my time cleaning the taxi after he leaves.
Carrying alcohol? Is there no open container law in Minneapolis? Can you walk the streets drinking a beer or a half-pint of whiskey? Me no understand.....
So you'd be okay with a privately owned bus company (say Greyhound) that forces black people to sit in the back??
The problem is that the rules of running a taxi are regulated by the government, and they are not allowed to discriminate against anyone...they HAVE to haul someone.....or face losing their license. Just take away their license...see how fast this lasts. DD
if u put it that way no. would you be okay with taking a person who you suspect of being a child molester to a school? you cant skew the argument and use irrelevant analogies.
I didnt know it was regulated by the gov. and i guess they cant legally not take someone... but maybe if they boycott or something... I dont think that if someone feels morallly right doing something, he should be forced to do so...
You are defending taxi drivers not letting guide dogs in taxis? Or making drunk people drive instead of getting a ride home? That is morally right to you?
I think the correct approach for these taxi driver should be to form a lobby group to try to change the law. As long as the law is still here, they have to abide by the law to take these passengers. If they don't, they will be punished. That's just the way it works here in the US.
So how would you feel if a bunch of taxi drivers decided not to take Muslims? That seems like a fair comparison to me as it is just showing the other side of the coin. If you don't think so it would be nice if you explain why it is different.
Then get a new job! No one is forcing them to drive a cab. Either follow the rules or do something else.
