A taxi driver in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, has come under fire after he refused to drive Jewish passengers to the Israeli embassy, calling them "murderers" in a video that has gone viral.
Social media users in the country reacted with outrage, condemning the driver's behavior and urging authorities to locate and punish him. "If we keep killing education, there will be more people like this," one user commented. Another wrote, "This is dangerous, real news."
Local media reported that a heated argument broke out between the driver and the passengers once he realized they were Jewish. The driver demanded that the passengers leave the taxi because of their religion. It is unclear exactly when the incident occurred, but the footage was published in the past two days.
Uzbekistan’s criminal code includes provisions for punishment for "incitement to ethnic hatred." Under Article 156, the driver could face a prison sentence of three to five years if found guilty.
Authorities have not yet made a statement on whether an investigation will be launched.
