Muslim taxi driver refused to let woman sit in front seat for ‘religious reasons’
A MUSLIM taxi driver has caused fury after he refused a woman to sit in the front seat due to “religious reasons”.
By Lizzie Stromme
PUBLISHED: 00:00, Sun, Dec 20, 2015 | UPDATED: 00:29, Sun, Dec 20, 2015
The driver was accused of discriminating a mother when she tried to get into the front seat of the cab, but found the door locked.
When confronted by the family, New York taxi driver Tamsir Drammeh said the husband could sit at the front, but his wife would have to sit in the back because his religious beliefs forbid him to sit next to a woman.
The outraged family promptly got out and took down the number of the taxi.
The family reported the incident and Drammeh was slapped with a £250 ($350) fine for discrimination by a city judge.
The judge told the driver that he needed to set aside his beliefs when serving the public.
She said “his religion did not allow him to sit next to a woman is not an acceptable defence in an occupation that is operated to serve the public”.
She added: “Of significance, respondent made it clear that the husband would be welcome in the front seat, while the wife/complainant would not be.”
The manager of Drammeh’s garage said that there was no rule in Islam that said the driver could not sit next to a woman.
The manager said: “There's no such rule in Islam.
“He wouldn't have her in the front, but only if she is alone.”
Drammeh was fined in September and was suspended from his job for a day.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/628228/Cab-driver-Islam-religious-discriminating-female-passenger-fined
