Last fall, the media reported widely on a proposal by the Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN) Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) to accommodate the religious concerns of some Muslim taxi drivers who objected to transporting passengers carrying openly displayed alcohol. (See prior postings 1, 2 .) It was less widely reported that the proposals were never adopted. Instead, according to yesterday's Minneapolis Star Tribune, the MAC staff is now proposing to suspend the license of any driver who refuses to transport a passenger for reasons other than safety concerns. The full commission is expected to vote to hold public hearings on the proposal that would suspend drivers who refuse on religious grounds to accept passengers transporting alcohol or service dogs (Islam considers the saliva of dogs unclean). The cabbie's airport license would be suspended for 30 days for a first offense and two years for a second offense.
Refusals of service on religious grounds has become a significant problem as a large percentage of airport cab drivers are Somali Muslims. However the Somali Justice Advocacy Center supports the proposed new penalties.
Muslims also have another disagreement with the Airports Commission. They want a separate prayer room at the airport. However MAC spokesman Patrick Hogan says that there is a quiet area currently open to everyone for contemplation and prayer, and separate space for a particular religion will not be provided.
