Religious intolerance rears its ugly head in UK
In yet another case where intolerance and lack of respect for the religion, customs, culture and laws of others has been demonstrated by some Muslims, a blind UK man was barred from bringing his guide dog into a restaurant in the UK. Mr. Elder-Brown was taking his girlfriend out to celebrate her birthday with her five year-old daughter when he was told he would have to leave his dog, Finn, tied up outside.
Mr. Elder-Brown showed the staff of the Kirthon Restaurant a card issued by the Institute of Environmental Health Officers certifying he and his dog were allowed into any premise but an argument ensued and the owners threatened to call the police if he did not leave. Under the Disability Discrimination Act it is illegal in the UK to refuse to serve a disabled person or give them a diminished level of service because of their disability.
The restaurants owner, Amenur Abdussamad, was not available for comment when attempts were made to contact him. Shamin Ahmed, a partner in the restaurant, said that he had written to Guide Dogs for the Blind to apologize for the incident. He said that although the owners of the restaurant are Muslim, he insisted religion was not a factor in the decision to refuse Mr. Elder-Brown.
We were worried about the hygiene, that is what happened, it was a mistake. We found out afterwards that guide dogs are allowed. I didn’t know that.
Muslims consider dogs unclean and there have been several prosecutions of Muslim taxi drivers who refuse to carry persons with guide dogs. I am certain that this was the reason the owners of the Kirthon Restaurant denied Mr. Elder-Brown access. The partner who tried to explain it as a misunderstanding must think that the average UK citizen is an idiot. Any restaurant or store owner in the UK must be aware that persons with guide dogs are allowed almost anywhere that a person without a guide dog is allowed. To say that he simply wasn’t aware of that requirement is a lie. The owners are only apologizing now because of the controversy that was stirred up by the incident. If they want to operate a business in the UK they must adhere to all the laws that govern that business.
This is just another case where Muslim immigrants to Europe and the rest of the world want to have their cake and eat it too. Instead of trying to peacefully co-exist with existing religions, customs and cultures of the countries they have immigrated to they instead demand that non-Muslims accommodate them in all ways without any reciprocation. America has been called the great melting pot because many different peoples and religions have found a way to live together peacefully while respecting each others customs, religions and ways of life. Muslims immigrating to other countries would do well to try to do the same thing.
Most Muslims do respect the customs, religions, and cultures of others. For the most part Muslims have successfully integrated into this country alongside many other religions. If it can be done here it can certainly be done in the UK and elsewhere. Religious intolerance is something that all religions are guilty of and something that needs to be completely eliminated if people are to live peacefully together.
