Sharia cab in New York City: Muslim cabbie kicks out gay couple
A few years ago when the Muslim cabdrivers at the Minneapolis airport were refusing to carry passengers who had alcohol, several people pointed out that it would set a dangerous precedent to allow cabbies to select passengers according to Sharia rules. If a cabdriver could reject a passenger who was holding a bottle of whiskey, he could reject a passenger who was eating a ham sandwich, or an unmarried couple, or, as here, a gay couple. And the American principle of equality of access would be overthrown in favor of a religious discrimination that would enshrine Islamic law as a higher law than the law of the land.
And that's why Medhat Mohamed needs to lose his job. As long as the law of the U.S. disallows religious discrimination, his action ought to be seen as such and authorities should act accordingly.
"Crabby cabby boots same-sex lovebirds," by Kirsten Fleming, Tom Namako and Reuven Fenton in the New York Post, November 4 (thanks to John):
An overzealous cabby allegedly booted a gay couple when he spotted the duo sharing a warm embrace in the back of his cold car.
Paul Bruno and his partner hailed the yellow cab Monday night at 13th Street and First Avenue and sat close, Bruno told The Post.
But the driver, identified by Bruno and city records as Medhat Mohamed, was apparently appalled by their shows of affection -- and pulled the cab over two blocks into the trip.
"You guys have to get out of the taxi! Hugging is not allowed in here!" the driver said, according to Bruno.
Stunned, the lovebirds exited and watched the taxi peel away.
"I was shocked," said Bruno, 27, who called the act "discrimination against homosexuals."
The encounter took place at 10:20 p.m. after the couple attended a birthday dinner and hailed a ride to East Harlem.
"To pull over after two blocks and be so blatantly intolerant is outrageous," Bruno said.
"He needs to exercise the rules in which he was employed a little more closely."
Both men said they hoped other cabbies didn't share the same views on an innocent act.
"I don't know if it was a personal or religious thing. But it's never OK to deny anyone a ride, especially when it's such blatant and direct discrimination," added Bruno, a lifelong city resident....
