Blind man's guide dog barred from restaurant for offending Muslims

[loki]

A blind man has been turned away from a fashionable Indian restaurant because his guide dog offended Muslim staff.

By John Bingham
Last Updated: 8:47PM GMT 15 Dec 2008

Alun Elder-Brown, a recruitment executive, said he was left feeling "like a piece of dirt" after being barred from bringing the animal into Kirthon Restaurant in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on religious grounds.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association said the decision was illegal under the Disability Discrimination Act and Mr Elder-Brown, 51, is now considering suing the establishment in The Pantiles.

It follows a series of successful prosecutions of Muslim taxi drivers who refused to carry guide dogs in their cars because they considered them unclean on religious grounds.


Alun Elder-Brown was barred from bringing his guide dog, Finn, into Kirthon Restaurant

Mr Elder-Brown was taking his girlfriend out to celebrate her birthday with her five year-old daughter last week when he was told he would have to leave his dog, Finn, tied up outside.

He showed a card issued by the Institute of Environmental Health Officers certifying he and his dog were allowed into any premises but an argument ensued and the owners threatened to call the police if he did not leave.

"It was humiliating and degrading, especially as there were a lot of people around me," he said.

"I was made to feel like a piece of dirt. They told me I couldn't come in because it was against their religious beliefs to have a dog in the restaurant.

"They then said I could leave Finn tied up outside. I stayed calm but when they threatened to call police I left."

He added: "It was horrible. It put a dampener on the whole celebration."

Under the Disability Discrimination Act it is illegal to refuse to serve a disabled person of give them a diminished level of service because of their disability.

Chris Dyson of Guide Dogs for the Blind said: "We are extremely concerned and disappointed that Alun was refused access to this restaurant.

"We very much hope that this restaurant will reconsider its decision and get in touch with the charity so that we can give them a better understanding of their requirements under the law and explain the important role that the guide dog plays for Alun."

The restaurant's owner, Amenur Abdussamad, was not immediately available for comment.

But Shamin Ahmed, a partner in the restaurant, said that he had written to Guide Dogs for the Blind to apologise for the incident.

He said that although the owners of the venue 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,” he said.

“I have had a letter from Guide Dogs for the Blind, I have sent a reply apologising about that.... we found out afterwards that guide dogs are allowed, I didn’t know that.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...g-Muslims.html

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

Originally Posted by loki

He said that although the owners of the venue 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,” he said.

“I have had a letter from Guide Dogs for the Blind, I have sent a reply apologising about that.... we found out afterwards that guide dogs are allowed, I didn’t know that.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...g-Muslims.html

The Torgraph pisses me off so badly. The above quote should have been and end to the matter (a perfectly aceptable apology) and this is only published to infuriate small minded little Englanders. Just like the other story published by Nost. It's stirring up hatred for the Tory propaganda machine. Of all the crimes being committed by that parasite class, this is so feeble in comparison. Excuse me while I puke.

[loki]

Not that i dont slightly agree with you TMI,

but the complainants line:

"I was made to feel like a piece of dirt. They told me I couldn't come in because it was against their religious beliefs to have a dog in the restaurant."

Really should say it all. Now I'm wondering can a truly blind man be rascist?
Anyway it all boils down to who you believe, the blind guy who has nothing to gain, or the partner to the restuarant who is under risk of being fined.

I know from personal experience, good friends who are muslim, who are not only worried about the 'filthy animals' aspect, but are downright terrified of dogs.
Thats all changing now tho, in that i notice quite a few young asian men breeding staffordshire bull terrriers, and pit bulls for fighting. Nothing changes a religious persuasion like money..............

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

Originally Posted by loki

Not that i dont slightly agree with you TMI,

but the complainants line:



Really should say it all. Now I'm wondering can a truly blind man be rascist?
Anyway it all boils down to who you believe, the blind guy who has nothing to gain, or the partner to the restuarant who is under risk of being fined.

I know from personal experience, good friends who are muslim, who are not only worried about the 'filthy animals' aspect, but are downright terrified of dogs.
Thats all changing now tho, in that i notice quite a few young asian men breeding staffordshire bull terrriers, and pit bulls for fighting. Nothing changes a religious persuasion like money..............

They apoligised dude. And I lived amongst Muslims with my dogs. I'm not a Muslim, but I respect all faiths, whatever my views. This could've have been manufactured just by sending him along, anyhow -just like hacks raking through your rubbish. I've never actually seen a dog in a restaurant. And I don't expect to. The guy was even with his girlfriend... did he need his dog? Dogs are 'unclean' in that faith because they eat and lick shit- quite understandable really.

I am friendly with Muzzers, always have been and always will be because they are lovely people.

But you have to tell them when to - piss off!


And 9/10 Muzzers will not object to a guide dog 9/10 times anyway. But you always get a few who try it on to see how you react etc.

Just like any other equal member of the public - tell them a guide dog is allowed into a food place like a restaurant and that's the law.

End of story.

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

A complete non-story.
They apologised.
End of story.
What crimes of of the 'recruitment executive' class are being shoved off the page for this drivel?

There you go, a mistake was made and an apology was given.

Like I said 9/10 Muzzers get 10/10 and 1/10 Muzzers need a little improvement.


And don't we all?

[Knight of the Word]

This is a big deal,
It's a public restaurant, there are rules in society to protect certain segments from being discriminated against. When you have a fundamentalist percentage the 1 out of 10 forcing others to bend to their rigid standards it has to be stopped and that group made accountable. I hope they go after them with the full extent of the law, and maybe win a civil judgment big enough to put them out of business.

If you don't stand up too that 10 percent you will have your woman wearing head coverings and be bowing down towards mecca at their hands, look whats happening to parts of Europe that has not stood up to their intolerance.

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

This shouldn't have got any further than the local rag at most. If this matters, then each day when I nearly get run down on the pavement (sidewalk) by a elderly person in an electric shopper-trolley it should make the Torygraph. But we make excuses for them, don't we...?

[Knight of the Word]

At least the elderly are not stopping you from walking on the sidewalk or you are not trying to stop them. There needs to be mutual respect for all users and common courtesy. That is something you will never find from the fundamentalist sectors.