Cab-driving while Muslim

This article in today's LA Times is not the first I come across on the 'controversy' about Muslim cab drivers refusing to take passengers carrying alcohol. In this particular instance, it's Somali cab drivers in Minneapolis (who make up over 70% of licenced cab drivers in that city).

This is the drivers' position:

"Nobody asks you what's in your luggage," said driver Abikar Abdulahi, 24. "But if it's in a box that we can see, we can't take it."

If they ever did knowingly transport alcohol, the drivers say, they would have to answer to God on Judgment Day.

This is how their position is misconstrued:

"[Do] I have to hide my Star of David necklace to get service … do I have to wear a burka?" another asked.

Who said anything about a dress code??

Or,

"You call a cab, but he can't give you a ride," he started.

"Because you have alcohol on your breath," Psihos said, finishing his thought.

"I mean, that's why I need the ride!" said Wohlwend, 39. "Because I'm hammered!"

Who said anything about transporting drunk people? And by the way, even if they did refuse (although I don't think they would on religious basis), they're allowed to by law as the article later quotes: "Drivers may legally refuse to carry passengers who appear drunk or dangerous..."

Oh, and check this out:

Spokesmen for two national Muslim organizations said they had not seen similar conflicts anywhere else. The refusal to transport alcohol (and to scan pork products) appears limited to Somalian immigrants in the Twin Cities. Their strict interpretation of the Koran does not have universal support among local Muslims.


Who do you think these "national Muslim organizations" are that are speaking on behalf of the American Muslim community? ISNA? Fiqh Council? CAIR? MPAC? Not even close. The Somali Justice Advocacy Center and the Confederation of Somali Community. Basically, professional, ethnic-based (not faith-based) organizations that are by no means qualified to issue a judgement on this issue.

Personally, I completely understand the Muslim cab driver's position. I am by no means qualified to issue a ruling on this issue, but as an average Muslim Jane the cab drivers' position does not seem to be an overly strict or 'extreme' interpretation of Islamic law.

On the other hand, I'm not so sure about the position of Muslim supermarket cashiers refusing to handle pork items (which the article also mentions). Although both alcohol and pork are prohibited Islamically, the rulings on handling and transporting them are different (to my limited knowledge).

Has anyone done any research on these issues? I would be interested to know what the scholarly opinions are regarding them.

Once that's all figured out, we need to work on sharing the information with the public and clearing up the media distortions. But we have to know what we're talking about first.

An Obession with MisInfromation

Or we can call it by what it is-

"Obsession: The Zionist Propaganda Machine"



Have you tuned into KROQ in the past month or so? KROQ happens to be my fall back radio station when I am depressed about the Iraq horror story and the Bush governments ineptitude- he's in South America with an olive branch, except all his speeches are about Hugo, can we call it an obsession? I was disturbed to hear a commercial on KROQ by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) sponsoring "Obession: Radical Islam's War Against the West".

Lets leave the fact that this advertisement was coming from the AJC- a staunchly Pro-Israel, before American Interest organization sponsoring something like this and look at what exactly this documentary is all about.

This so called documentary, according to the official website (from now on referenced as a Mockumentary)

compares the threat of Islamism with that of Nazism before World War II, and observes the parallels between Islamists and the Nazi Party during the War, specifically Adolf Hitler's relationship with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem as an inspiration for radical Islamic movements in the Middle East today.

Now that in itself is a lot to digest. But wait, here is a list of individuals who are the "experts" that are interviewed:

Nonie Darwish (the daughter of a Fedayeen terrorist), Alan M. Dershowitz, Steven Emerson, Brigitte Gabriel, Martin Gilbert, Caroline Glick, Alfons Heck, Glen Jenvey, John Loftus, Salim Mansur, Itamar Marcus, Khaleel Mohammed, Daniel Pipes, Tashbih Sayyed, Walid Shoebat, Khaled Abu Toameh, Robert Wistrich

Plus it seems that the Israeli government/military had no problem opening up their torture cells to suspect "terrorists"- I am surprised they didn't bring the women and children they hold in the prison to be interviewed as well- for mockumentary- read the wikipedia entry. Read this blog and you will get an idea of how you can make some major bank these days.

I think I will leave the analysis of the movie once I watch it but you can read about a Muslim experience here. However, it is important to focus on this aspect for those of you not familiar because this sets up the tone of where this mockumentary is coming from which allows you to understand why this is no bona fide documentary but rather a propaganda piece.

Honest Reporting is the responsible party- they produced this mockumentary. But is Honest Reporting really what it says it is- honest implies unbiased, neutral, fact driven reporting? Or does it imply one version, one side, one perspective? Here is some information that will help your understanding of Honest Reporting.

First- Honest Reporting was cited by the London Guardian as an Israeli Propaganda mouth piece. Ouch. If you read the article, you will see that Honest Reporting was calling the Israeli bombing of a Red Cross Ambulances in the recent Lebanon war a "hoax"- imagine something that grave and serious being called a hoax and Honest Reporting championing that mantle.3

Human Rights Watch issued this report to rebut the claims made and then propagated by Honest Reporting-here.

Second- What is Honest Reporting? Well according to Honest Reporting they area a media watchdog group that monitors the media for negative portrayals of Israel. So that must be some slant to this right?

Third- If you think Honest Reporting passes as a legitimate honest broker on negative Israeli reporting then its worth checking out how Honest Reporting got it start. Honest Reporting was founded by Aish Ha Torah- they take pride in creating this media monster. But see Aish Ha Torah, in their own bubble, believe that Honest Reporting is legitimate. Aish Ha Torah is a radical, fringe right wing extremist movement in Israeli society. They are not entitled to represent any sort of "objectivity" since the founder of this group felt that "20,000 Jews were being lost" due to them marrying outside of the Jewish race- is that such a bad thing to marry outside one's race, I tell my mom the benefits of this all the time? But basically they are racial elitist that view Israel as a sacred cow that is beyond criticism and Zionism and Judiasim being one and the same- which is not the case!

Obsession the mockumentary really is just another propaganda piece being put out by right-wing extremist!

Going back to KROQ. For a main stream, all access media outlet to take advertisements on such a propaganda piece is disturbing, but understandable. The advertisement department isn't looking into what this is about but rather how much money it will bring in. So it was nice to have Muslims call in and complain about this. The best description of such a conversation is as follows*:

KROQ- You know this is a Freedom of speech issue, you say one thing they say another.

Muslim- I understand that but as KROQ you have listener from all strips.

KROQ- Whats wrong with them paying for the spot, technically its not our message, they paid for the air space.

Muslim- Okay, so let me get this straight, if i pay for an ad, you would play it regardless of content?

KROQ- Yes and no, we have to follow FCC guidelines.

Muslim- I understand but if i pay you will play it meeting FCC guidelines?

KROQ- yes

Muslim- Okay i will pay you money to make an ad that says slavery was good for America and that it would solve our immigration problem and that Jews were responsible for most of the social ills today. The organization sponsoring it is Americans for a Clean America. That's what AJC and the movie Obsession is to me.

Case closed.

*this is not me, I wish I thought of it but it isn't me. Also the conversation didn't occur precisely this way, this just how i remember it.