Mr. Ahmed, a Restaurant Manager, Refuses to Serve a Vet & His Service Dog
by Betty Butter • 13 September, 2014 • Politics • 0 Comments
This incident took place in Patterson, NJ. You will find the conversation between an Eyewitness news reporter and the manager quite amusing, as the manager first lies to the reporter about his own identity.
From Universal Free Press:
Maybe a Muslim Subway manager was beginning the transition from democracy into Sharia when he refused to allow a disabled veteran enter a restaurant because he had a service dog with him.
This refusal stems from a religious belief that dogs are cursed, unclean, or bring about dark spirits. Sometimes even considered demons themselves, dogs are often prohibited in the hadith, Muhammad’s teachings.
The Muslim man, however, knew he legally could not turn the man and animal away, but legalities weren’t about to stop him.
Eyewitness News reports:
Richard Hunter’s troubled life turned around in July when the U.S. Army veteran received a service dog from the non-profit group Dogs4Warriors. The 50-year-old suffers from severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
“He realizes I’m having anxiety before I do,” Richard Hunter said.
So, it was a big deal when Hunter finally took his son and a coworker to lunch a few weeks ago at a Subway restaurant in Paterson, New Jersey.
“This was huge to go out with my son for the first time in over ten years,” Hunter said.
The sign on the door seemingly said it all: “Service animals are welcome,” but Hunter claims the manager, later identified as Mitul Ahmed, said something very different.
“I may have been holding the door when he first said something. He said, ‘The dog is not allowed in here. Get the dog out of here,’” Hunter said.
“He was clearly identified as a service animal,” Eyewitness News Investigative Reporter Sarah Wallace said.
“He was wearing what he has on right now,” Hunter said. “I said he was a service animal.”
“He didn’t care,” Wallace said.
“That’s exactly what he said, ‘I don’t care,’” Hunter said.
Hunter called the cops who said they couldn’t do anything. He then called the owner.
“The owner told me straight up: ‘I can refuse service to anyone I want,’” Hunter said.
That’s when Hunter reached out to disability rights attorney Robert Tandy.
“No food establishment can refuse entry to a service animal,” Tandy said.
That’s when Eyewitness News says they had the strangest exchange they’ve ever experienced:
When Eyewitness News found the manager, Mitul Ahmed, behind the counter he denied everything.
“You’re not Mitul Ahmed,” Wallace said.
“No, he’s not here,” Ahmed said.
Oh, and that sign on the door, suddenly changed. The line about service animals welcome was removed.
The owner’s son arrived, with a foot-long list of excuses.
“If he’s not going to say he made a mistake, that’s fine too, because I’m going to be the better person, you know, we both messed up, all right, we messed up more,” said Zaphir Pathan, the Subway owner’s son.
“How did he mess up by having a service dog and wanting to go into the store, I don’t understand that?” Wallace said.
“You’re completely twisting the situation, that’s funny,” Pathan said.
“If I go into that Subway with a service dog, will I be allowed in?” Wallace asked.
“You can go in right now because now we know,” he said.
Now, Guess what? Ahmed is still working and still in denial.
“You weren’t here,” Wallace said.
“No,” Ahmed said.
“So, you’re ok having him work for you when he lied?” Wallace asked.
“Who doesn’t lie when they don’t want their case thrown under the water?” Pathan said.
“OK, my goodness,” Wallace said.
“I was just looking for an apology. I was just looking for an apology that you’re wrong,” Hunter said. “Now, I’m afraid to go out. I’m having anxiety even to go to the corner store now.”
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