Anti-dhimmitude contemplated at the Minneapolis airport. An update on [1] this story, by Emily Gurnon in the [2] St. Paul Pioneer Press, with thanks to TC:

For the airport, it's about customer service. For taxi drivers, it's about freedom of religion.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is considering tough penalties against taxi drivers who say Islam forbids them from accepting passengers who carry alcohol.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission voted Tuesday to conduct a public hearing on the matter Feb. 27. Cabdrivers, many of them Muslims from Somalia, say they are being put in a tough spot.

"Our people are ready to work with a customer always," said Yusuf Abdullah, 32, of Minneapolis. "I would like to keep my faith, and I would like to keep my job."

Airport Director Steve Wareham said his staff will recommend that cabdrivers who refuse a customer be given a 30-day suspension for the first offense and a two-year revocation of their airport license for a second refusal.

The current punishment is sending the cabdriver to the back of the taxi line, which can mean a wait of three or more hours, drivers said.

"You go behind 200 cabs — that's enough of a penalty," said Girma Asfaw, 55, of Bloomington.