Islamic scholars question success of "female taxi" in Chechnya

The taxi service for women "Mekhkari" is in demand in Chechnya from the first days of its operation, but there are too few cars, women-residents of the republic have stated. However, the Orientalists interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" were restrained in assessing the prospects for the development of the service due to the relatively small number of strictly practicing Muslim women in Northern Caucasus.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in early March this year, Chechnya announced the creation of a taxi service, which is intended exclusively for women. Only women drivers will work in the taxi company, who will carry women passengers.

The taxi service "Mekhkari", intended only for women, began work in test mode on April 28.

"Since May 6, five cars are working; in the coming weeks we plan to add other 15 cars. The first permanent clients have already appeared; girls and women are grateful for the opened service," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the "Mekhkari" taxi service.

The women-residents of the republic interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have noted that the service should increase the fleet of cars. "A couple of times I used the 'female taxi'; the servicing was at the due level. However, their cars are almost always busy; once, I had to wait for about 20 minutes," Albik, a woman from Grozny told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Successes of the "Mekhkari" in Grozny will depend on the effectiveness of promotion, but religious women who fundamentally need such a service are few in Northern Caucasus, says Akhmet Yarlykapov, a senior researcher at the Centre for Studying of the Caucasus of the Moscow State Institute of Foreign Relations (MGIMO). "With all the statements about the successful Islamization, in Northern Caucasus, a significant part of the population remains secular, including women. Even in Chechnya, this service will be just a niche product; it is unlikely to be a breakthrough business," he told our reporter.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 10, 2019 at 10:16 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.