A Muslim taxicab driver is suing the city of St. Louis, the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission and a private security company, saying he has been harassed and arrested because he insists on wearing religious garb.
Raja Awais Naeem, who works for Harris Cab and manages a shuttle service called A-1 Shuttle, says his religious beliefs require him to wear modest, loose-fitting clothing and a hat called a kufi. But that garb has run afoul of the taxicab commission’s dress code for cabbies, Naeem claims in the suit filed Thursday morning in St. Louis Circuit Court.
Naeem, originally from Pakistan but now a U.S. citizen living in St. Louis County, said he has been told he must adhere to the commission’s rules requiring a white shirt, black pants and no kufi. Baseball caps are allowed, as long as they have no logo other than the taxi certificate holder.
Multi-culturalism and political correctness are problematic. If the rule for taxi drivers include certain clothing, and you cannon abide by those rules, then you should not be a taxi driver. Yielding to Islamic traditions is a slippery slope that has led may European countries into serious problems. We do not have Jewish courts, and I am unaware of any lawsuits brought by the ultra orthodox Jewish community regarding dress for employment. I am unaware of any American Indians suing because they cannot wear traditional dress while working. Why are we making exceptions for Muslims? Next we will be allowing Sharia courts (as many European countries do) because ‘it is the right thing to do’. Sorry, this is America, you should speak English and comply with our general standards. We should not be ‘changing’ the US to accommodate every other culture. If they want that culture, go somewhere it is the accepted practice. My Grandfather did not sue the schools in New Jersey because they did not have classes in German, or expect it….