CAIR Seeks Religious Rights for Ohio Muslim Cabbies

Muslim civil rights group asks for meeting with mayor to discuss reasonable religious accommodation

CLEVELAND, March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) is calling for a meeting between Mayor Frank Jackson, community leaders and Muslim taxi drivers who say they are being denied reasonable religious accommodation at Hopkins International Airport.

Airport policy directives currently ban the drivers from using airport restrooms to make ritual ablutions before prayer (wudu) and from praying in the airport chapel while on the job.

A March 13, 2009, directive states in part: “Cab drivers observed ‘praying’ in the queue by the cab starter may be sent out for the day. Cab drivers observed moving another’s cab to enable ‘praying’ will be considered in violation of the ASV (Airport Security Violation) Policy and subject to the ASV reinstatement procedure and possible permanent banning from picking up fares at CLE.”

The drivers claim that if they must exit the taxi queue in order to pray they will suffer significant loss of access to fares, forcing them to choose between their faith and their livelihood.

Somali and other immigrant taxi owners and drivers also allege they have faced an uphill battle to maintain operations at the airport. They say they are being unfairly ticketed by police officers who they allege impose tickets and fines selectively.

In 2007, the city allegedly attempted to sideline the Somali taxi companies by granting monopolies to several existing firms in a deal that effectively shut out the immigrant-owned cab companies because they did not meet new requirements stipulating that all such companies at Hopkins airport must have been operating in the city for more than seven years and must have $1 million in revenue.

The banned Somali and immigrant-owned companies filed suit, and the matter is currently pending in federal court.

“There should be a way to come up with a policy that takes into account the needs of the traveling public, the security requirements of the airport and the religious rights of the taxi drivers,” said CAIR-Ohio staff Attorney Romin Iqbal. “We ask for a meeting with Mayor Jackson to discuss this issue and to help reach a mutually-agreeable solution.”

He said the drivers are circulating a petition at local mosques calling on Mayor Jackson to meet with Muslim representatives.

CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com; Romin Iqbal, CAIR-Ohio Staff Attorney, 614-783-7953, E-mail: riqbal@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations