Israeli Paralympic medalist awarded NIS 30,000 after being refused disabled seat on train next to ultra-Orthodox man

The Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court awards Israeli Paralympic athlete Roni Ohayon NIS 30,000 in damages after she was refused access to the disabled seat she had paid for on Israel Railways because an ultra-Orthodox man would not sit next to a woman, Channel 12 reports.

In the incident that occurred in 2023, Ohayon, who is blind and accompanied by a guide dog, had bought a ticket for one of the designated disabled spots on a train.

A disabled ultra-Orthodox man was taking up three of the four spots and refused to move his belongings to allow her to sit next to him, because she is a woman.

A train inspector sided with the man and Ohayon was told to sit in a regular seat, even though she had specifically paid for the disabled seat.

The court found that she had been grossly discriminated against because of her gender.

Speaking to Channel 12, Ohayon, who won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris games in goalball, says that her aim is “to bring about a real change that will ensure that in the future other women, with or without disabilities, can sit where they choose without experiencing discrimination.”