[nfb-talk] Free Cab Rides For the Blind

[RyanO]

>>Minnesota Muslims to Offer Free Cab Rides for the Blind
>>     MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., March 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Minnesota
>>chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today
>>announced that Muslim employees of the Twin Cities Airport Taxi, Viking
>>Airport Taxi and Bloomington City Taxi will offer free cab rides to blind
>>individuals (and their guide dogs) attending a one-day semiannual
>>convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota.
>>The convention will take place on April 21, 2007, in Minneapolis. The
>>Muslim drivers are also willing to provide each convention member with his
>>or her personal driver for the day, free of charge.
>>CAIR-MN facilitated the offer after inaccurate reports surfaced of cab
>>drivers refusing to serve passengers with guide dogs. "As Muslims, we
>>believe that we must do all we can to assist those who have physical
>>challenges and special needs," said CAIR-MN Communications Director
>>Valerie
>>Shirley.
>>Shirley quoted Islam's Prophet Muhammad, who said: "There are many
>>doors to goodness. . .listening to the deaf (until you understand them),
>>leading the blind, guiding someone to the object of his need, hurrying
>>with
>>the strength of one's legs to one in sorrow who is asking for help, and
>>supporting the weak with the strength of one's arms -- all of these are
>>(forms of) charity prescribed for you." (Fiqh-us-Sunnah, 3:98)
>>Muslim taxi drivers claim that they have been misunderstood and
>>misrepresented in the media. "This has never been an issue for us," said
>>Abdinoor Ahmed Dolal, owner of Twin Cities Airport Taxi. "Islam forbids us
>>to turn away a blind passenger, whether they have a guide dog or not.
>>Their
>>rights come first."
>>CAIR-MN and the Muslim taxi drivers intend to extend this same offer to
>>members attending the American Council of the Blind Convention to be held
>>in Minneapolis in late June of this year.
>>CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 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-MN Communications Director Valerie Shirley, Tel: 763-226-
>>5866, E-Mail:
>>valerie.shirley at gmail.com
>>SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations
>>www.technorati.com
>



RyanO

"Share a generous slice of heaven with your friends. Save the left-over hell 
for your enemies."
Elliott Lange