Hassan Hoviat-Doust sews his mouth shut after being convicted of assaulting a woman

A British taxi-driver, who lost his license after being convicted of assaulting a female passenger, has been staging a hunger strike outside a courthouse with his mouth sewn shut.

Since Monday, Hassan Hoviat-Doust has been standing outside Bristol Magistrates’ Court with a sign that says: “I am a taxi driver who was wrongly convicted of common assault and I have lost my job.”

The 43-year-old man, who cannot speak because she sewed his mouth shut with thick cotton thread, wrote “FIGHT for clear name, Fight for equal justice to be served. That is the life without human right.  Innocent till proven guilty.”

Communicating with reporters by writing on paper, the married father said he lost his taxi driver’s license as a result of the conviction and is now unable to support his 16-month old son and his wife, who is 19 weeks pregnant.

Hoviat-Doust was convicted after a woman told authorities he had argued with her while in his cab on July 17.  She said during the argument he stopped his vehicle and forced her out of his cab, leaving her on the ground.

Hoviat-Doust claims he did not abusive the passenger, he barely opened the door of his taxi and asked her to leave, which she eventually did.

Hoviat-Doust was ordered to pay a $350 compensation to his victim and court cost of $800. He was also given a 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. curfew.