(COLUMBUS, OH – 1/8/24) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), today called for the reinstatement of a Palestinian-American Lyft driver after he was reportedly removed from that app following a hate incident in which he was allegedly called a “terrorist” by a passenger.
Salam Zaghmot, a 5.0-star rated Lyft driver for the past 5.6 years with more than 1800 completed rides, encountered a distressing incident on Saturday, December 2, 2023, when 4 women, passengers allegedly made racist and discriminatory comments about his name and questioned his place of origin.
Despite Zaghmot’s attempts to diffuse the situation by asserting his identity as a Denver, Colorado, native, the passengers persisted with offensive remarks and suggested affiliation with hate groups and allegedly called him a “terrorist.”
Faced with a hostile environment in his own vehicle, Zaghmot exercised his right to ensure a safe and respectful environment for himself and his passengers. He reported the incident using Lyft’s safety features, and a detailed account of the incident was provided to a safety agent.
Despite promptly reporting the incident, Zaghmot received no response until four days later. Astonishingly, Lyft informed him that a complaint had been filed against him for not completing the ride and allegedly engaging in discriminatory behavior. To Zaghmot’s dismay, he was subsequently removed as a driver from the Lyft app without any additional information or investigation.
CAIR-Ohio condemned Lyft’s apparent failure to address the discrimination faced by the driver.
In a statement, CAIR-Ohio Legal Director Lina Abbaoui said:
“It is deeply troubling that Lyft did not thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident before taking punitive action against Mr. Zaghmot. Lyft’s actions in this case raise serious concerns about the company’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all its drivers, regardless of their background or identity.
“We call on Lyft to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter, reinstate Mr. Zaghmot as a driver, and implement measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.”
“CAIR-Ohio further urges Lyft to review its policies and procedures to ensure they are comprehensive, transparent, and effective in addressing incidents of discrimination faced by drivers. CAIR-Ohio stands ready to assist Mr. Zaghmot in seeking a just resolution to this matter and ensuring that Lyft upholds its commitment to providing a safe experience for passengers and drivers.”
CAIR’s national office recently released new civil rights data showing that it has received a “staggering” 2,171 complaints amid an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, with three offices in Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. The organization is dedicated to enhancing understanding of Islam, protecting civil rights, promoting justice, and empowering American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Amina Barhumi: abarhumi@cair.com | 614-763-6557
