Voice Of The Copts: Muslim bus driver locks passengers aboard as he stops to pray

Muslim bus driver locks passengers aboard as he stops to pray
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Heidi Blake - Telegraph on 08 February, 2010 09:28:00 AM
 
The driver pulled over without warning and rolled out a high-visibility jacket
as a makeshift prayer mat before removing his shoes, turning to face Mecca and
starting to chant in Arabic.
Passengers said they looked on in stunned silence, fearing the driver may be
preparing for a terrorist attack on the bus. No one was able to get on or off
the vehicle during the five-minute prayer session.
Gayle Griffiths, 33, complained to Transport for London (TfL) about the incident
on the number 24 bus in Gospel Oak, north London, last week.
The mother-of-one from Camden, north west London, who had boarded the bus
minutes earlier on her way home from work, said: "Everyone was looking round in
a mix of shock and amazement.
"When he had finished, he just got back up and set off again – all without any
explanation or apology. It was truly bizarre, ludicrous and aggravating."
"We are delayed often enough as it is in London. We live in a multicultural
society but there is a time and a place for prayer and the middle of a journey
with a busload of passengers is not it."
The NHS administrator added: "It even went through my mind that this might be
some sort of terrorist attack with the bus blown up because I had heard that
suicide bombers prayed before attacks."
TfL has apologised to all the passengers for the delay to their journey and the
driver has been reprimanded.
A spokesman said: "A route 24 bus was delayed following a decision by the driver
to stop the bus to pray.
"The bus company – London General – has had a word with the driver as this
is not something that should be happening."
Muslim drivers have been reminded that they should pray during rest periods
between journeys to avoid delays, TfL said.