This has spread to the UK

Submitted by Dr. Denis MacEoin (United Kingdom), Oct 11, 2006 at 09:20

Reading this today, I recalled a news item I was sent yesterday, in which it was reported that Muslim taxi drivers in London are refusing to carry blind passengers who have guide dogs, on the grounds that the dogs are najis.

Daniel is right in suggesting that other categories of passenger could be refused carriage, though this will only apply to cases where a profession or preference is openly displayed. The next step will surely be 'inappropriately' dressed women (which could easily extend to Muslim women without niqab — currently a huge issue over here in the UK anyway), gay couples or flamboyant gay men and women, Jews with kippas, pe'ot, tzitzit, etc., anyone who just flew in on an El Al flight, anyone (blind or not) with a dog, any man wearing silk (even a silk necktie) or gold jewellery or with his hair dyed black, transvestites, and who knows what else.

Shoppers might be grilled on whether there is ham or bacon in their bags, others on whether they have just had sex, women on whether they are menstruating. It is for local or even national government to insist that US or UK standars apply. Here, a Muslim police officer was recently excused duty that would have meant his guarding the Israeli embassy. Next thing, Muslim soldiers will refuse tours of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. Muslim teachers may refuse to teach girls over a certain age unless they wear some form of hijab. Being a Muslim can become an excuse for opting out of civic responsibility, with dire consequences for Muslims themselves and for society as a whole.

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