Posted on 01/25/2005 8:50:20 PM PST by Alouette
WASHINGTON -- Software salesman Shadab Aziz of Houston was preparing recently to catch the first flight on his long journey to Saudi Arabia for the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca expected at least once in a lifetime of all able Muslims. But his mind was partly on what could happen when he returned to the United States.
A U.S. citizen, Aziz wondered if American border officials would make him provide his fingerprints before allowing him to re-enter the country. That had been the case weeks earlier for a group of Muslim-Americans returning from an Islamic conference in Toronto.
"My concern is that I be treated like any other citizen of this country and that I'm not discriminated unfairly against because of my religion," said Aziz, 27. "If an Anglo-Saxon male or female who's coming back into the country doesn't have to be fingerprinted, I see no reason why I have to be treated any differently."
U.S. citizens typically are not fingerprinted on their return from abroad. That usually is reserved for visiting foreigners as part of the US-VISIT program that went into full effect last year.
But when the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, part of the Homeland Security Department, demanded fingerprints from about three dozen Muslim-Americans returning from Toronto, photographing some as well, it set off alarm bells throughout the Muslim community. Officials said the additional screening was intended to prevent terrorists from entering the country.
With an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 American Muslims having gone on the hajj this year, and with many returning this week, a lot of the pilgrims fear they will face the same treatment before being allowed to re-enter the United States.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Simple solution, don't come back.
Cry me a river!
Being Muslim is probable cause. Tough luck, jihadi.
"If an Anglo-Saxon male or female who's coming back into the country doesn't have to be fingerprinted, I see no reason why I have to be treated any differently."
I do, Aziz, and if you don't see why, then I (and millions of others) also see you as part of the problem. Take your fat head out of your arrogant @ss and try to see why your fellow Americans might have problems with you, your religion and your destination.
Dude, that battalion would be severely understaffed. If they could make a full platoon I'd be surprised.
ahwa ahwa ahwaaa
Life is tough and shi'ite happens.
LOL, 'non-mooselimbs' has found its way into the FR spellchecker but 'mooselimb' hasn't! :)
Does the raised middle finger mean the same in Muslim countries as it means in the U.S.?
I prefer "moo slime" myself, it's more accurately descriptive.
Whats that? They say it's not their job? Ok, then immigration, police and the military will do it. Now what were they whining about again?
They are forbidden alcohol but love whine.
I've recently started using moo-slime also. I've even heard a few of my friends pick it up.
Does the raised middle finger mean the same in Muslim countries as it means in the U.S.?
If an Anglo-Saxon male or female who's coming back into the country doesn't have to be fingerprinted, I see no reason why I have to be treated any differently."
He DOSEN"T SEE WHY ? Is he kidding ..9/11 ring a bell moron ? If and Anglo Saxon NEEDED to be fingerprinted he would have to be as well.It's done for a reason , not to simply single people out .
I find the word moo slime reprehensible when it is applied to an American citizen. If he has an American passport he should be free to enter without harrasment. I suppose there are those out there that would get a little uptight if I started talking about the Spagetti eaters going to Rome to see the high priest and getting stopped on the way home, it's the same difference.
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