Uber driver says passenger attacked him for being Muslim

An Uber driver in Charlotte, N.C., said he was attacked by a passenger who thought he was Muslim. 

Uber driver Samson Woldemichael said it started Sunday morning when he went to pick up a passenger from a bar, he told WBTV in Charlotte. Woldmichael said the man gave him a home address, which was about 10 to 15 minutes away.

The drive started out peacefully, Woldemichael said. But when he stopped at the the passenger's house, he said the man became belligerent.

"He said he's gonna shoot me right in the face. He's gonna strangle me," Woldemichael said. "I asked him why. He was calling me too many bad word names ... insulting me. He told me I was a Muslim."

Woldemichael told the Charlotte-based television station he came to the United States from Ethiopia in 2007 and that he's a Christian.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police said that no arrest has been made and the case is being investigated. People who hire Uber drivers pay with their credit cards. Woldemichael is hoping police will be able to track the passenger. 

Uber on Tuesday said that they're working with police, and have already removed the rider's account.

"First and foremost, we're relieved the driver is OK and was not seriously injured. Discrimination of any kind is unacceptable and is not tolerated on the Uber platform," an Uber spokesperson said. "As soon as we were made aware, we permanently removed the rider’s account."

Uber's statement continued, “We will work with local law enforcement in every way we can to assist their investigation.”

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