Chechnya gets female-only taxis before the start of Ramadan
Women in Russia’s mostly-Muslim Chechen Republic can enjoy solo taxi rides with female drivers as the first women-only cab service was launched in the republic’s capital Grozny.
The Mekhkari (which means “girls” in Chechen) taxi service is supposed to become an alternative for Chechen women, who avoid traveling unaccompanied with a male driver outside their family circle for religious reasons.
“Currently five vehicles are operating in Grozny, but we plan to bring it to 20 by the end of the year. All drivers are, of course, females,” project initiator Madina Tsakaeva told the media, adding that the female-only taxi will not accept reservations from men.
According to the Mekhkari app, it also provides delivery of additional services such as home cleaning and even medicinal bleeding known as Hijama.
The project is funded by UAE’s Sheikh Zayed Fund, which finances small and medium-sized businesses in Chechnya. The new service is “suitable for transporting women passengers in terms of religious standards and traditions,” the fund said in an Instagram post.
Women only taxi services are appearing all over the world, including big Russian cities, aimed at ensuring the personal safety of female passengers. However, the initiative in Chechnya received mixed reaction from internet users. While many users perceived the enterprise as promoting gender segregation, even comparing it to “the Middle ages,” others praised it for safety and respect to religious beliefs.
- Source : RT
