Muslim taxi driver fined for refusing to pick up blind passenger because he claimed driving his guide dog was against his religion
Blind Charles Bloch was denied use of a taxi for the second time last year, after the driver said it went against his religion
A TAXI driver who refused to take a guide dog because it went against his religion has been fined for breaching equality laws.
Blind Charles Bloch was denied use of a taxi for the second time last year, after the Muslim driver said he could not take the dog due to his religion.
Abandi Kassim turned away Charles and his girlfriend in Leicester in July 2016.
He was filmed by the couple telling them that "for me, it's about my religion".
Charles explained the law which meant he had to carry them, but Kassim drove away.
After his fine at Leicester Magistrates' Court he apologised and said he was "confused" at the time.
Kassim, 44, of Fountains Avenue, Leicester, pleaded guilty to refusing to convey a guide dog, an offence under the Equality Act 2010, and was fined £340 plus £200 costs and a £50 victim surcharge.
The he said: "I was confused because I was scared of the dog and at the time I did not know the difference between the guide dog and the normal dog.
"It was a mistake, it was a lack of training, I think there should be a course about dogs. I know about them now and would take them now."
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Charles said he hoped the fine would send a message to others to follow the law.
This is the second time he has taken action against a taxi firm.
In November last year a driver was fined after he refused to pick up Charles and his dog with his reason also that it was against his religion.
Charles Bloch told driver Ahmed Kayd, 42, that he had pet Labrador Carlo with him through a message on the smartphone app.
But when Kayd arrived he asked if the dog would ‘lick him’ before refusing to give Mr Bloch and his partner a lift home to Spinney Hill Park, Leicester.
Kayd claimed he did not like dogs and taking animals was against his religion, despite Mr Bloch explaining it was illegal to refuse.
He was handed a £140 fine, ordered to pay £327 in costs and a victim surcharge of £30.
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