Two things I learned today
First, some muslims object to the inpurity of dogs, thus making the presence of guide dogs and the people who use them a public problem. The specific story told here about a muslim woman in the UK causing a blind man to switch schools because the college sided with her about the dog may or may not be true. But it's apparently true that some muslims would need to discriminate against guide dogs and their owners in order to serve their beliefs. Religion is so silly, whatever the flavor it comes in.
Second, non-palestinian disabled folks not traveling in Israel really have comparatively little to complain about. Not that our complaints aren't valid, but they cannot be compared to the frustrations of an American woman and her paralyzed wheelchair-using palestinian fiance trying to cross from Gaza into Jordan because she was required to leave to renew her visa.
The least of their problems was being given this chair to sit in:
3 comments:
The Shariah Council did make an exception to guide dogs for disabled people a few years back. Here is an article about it
However, in practice, many Muslim taxi drivers, for example, will refuse to take assistance dogs (and uh, many Muslim taxi drivers as well, but for the former, this explanation is still offered).
Interesting. But it makes no sense to say dogs are unclean but these dogs are okay because blind people need them.
There are always those who say A rule is a rule is a rule, and then there are those who, while unwilling to throw out the rule entirely "interpret" an exception.
In all religions, as you've said.
it is dangerous to be near religion (including the one I used to be involved with) much of the time.
Post a Comment