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Mar 30, 2007 7:08 am US/Central
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Muslim Cabbies Offer Free Rides For Blind And Dogs
Minneapolis (AP) ―
Muslim cabdrivers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, under fire for allegedly refusing service to some people on religious grounds, are offering blind people and their guide dogs free rides during an upcoming convention.
About 300 cabbies are volunteering to provide the free rides, hoping to counter the perception that the cabbies are refusing to pick up passengers with service dogs, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced Thursday.
However, Joyce Scanlan, the president of the National Federation of the Blind's Minnesota Chapter, which is organizing a convention April 21, gave the idea a cool reception, saying she would prefer the cabdrivers simply do their jobs.
"We really are uncomfortable with that, with the offer of getting free rides. We don't think that solves anything," Scanlan said. "We believe the cabdrivers need to realize that the law says they will not turn down a blind person."
Valerie Shirley, a spokeswoman for CAIR's Minnesota chapter, said Muslim cabbies at the airport claim such refusals never took place.
"They say this has never been an issue. They don't know where this came from," Shirley said. "They would really like a driver name, or a driver's number, of who did this (refused a blind passenger). In Islamic law, it's not permissible to turn away someone who is blind or has another disability, whether or not they have an animal."
Scanlan said her organization's clients have complained several times about cabbies not picking them up if they have guide dogs.
"It is an issue. I've heard about the Islamic cabdrivers at the airport," she said, adding that blind passengers face problems from non-Muslim cabbies in other areas of the city, as well.
Many Muslims believe dogs to be impure, based on interpretations of the Quran.
Airport spokesman Pat Hogan said that in the past several years there have been three formal complaints to the airport about people and their guide dogs being refused rides.
Officials at the Metropolitan Airports Commission are considering stiffer penalties for cabbies who refuse fares. A hearing to discuss the penalties followed reports that airport cabbies -- roughly three-quarters of whom are Muslim -- refused for religious reasons to transport passengers carrying alcohol.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)