Posted on 11/11/2010 5:13:21 PM PST by NYpeanut
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/10/2010) -- CAIR [Council on American-Islamic Relations]today issued a travel advisory for airline passengers who may be subjected to new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) "enhanced pat-downs" that many of those who undergo the procedure describe as invasive and humiliating.
The advisory comes after two of the nation's largest pilots' unions urged commercial pilots to avoid both full-body scanners and public pat-downs. Pilots have compared the new pat-downs to "sexual molestation." A union for flight attendants has expressed similar concerns.
Travelers are being asked to educate themselves about the new policy and to know their rights if asked to undergo security pat-downs. CAIR's advisory is particularly important for Muslim travelers leaving for or returning from Hajj because of concerns that they will be singled out for secondary screening by security personnel.
CAIR offices have already received complaints, particularly from female travelers who wear hijab, about being subjected to the new pat-down procedure.
The enhanced pat-down involves a much more intrusive manual search of passengers' bodies by TSA officers. Passengers who have undergone the new pat-down procedure have reported feeling humiliated by a search they describe as invasive and that has involved TSA officers touching the face and hair, the groin area and buttocks, and in between and underneath breasts.
One traveler wearing hijab, a 56-year-old Muslim flying out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, told CAIR the TSA screener patted-down her entire upper body, including, head, neck, chest, and hips, with the backs of her hands. The Muslim woman said she had "no idea" how invasive the procedure would be and would otherwise have opted for a private room or demanded to know why she was selected for secondary screening.
[NOTE: The woman had been referred to secondary screening even though the metal detector did not go off, a phenomenon reported frequently to CAIR by female Muslim travelers.]
BACKGROUND: Beginning earlier this year, the TSA began using full-imaging scanners in airports. In February, CAIR supported a statement by a prominent group of Muslim scholars that the full-body scanners violate religious and privacy rights.
As of August 2010, passengers who opted out of the full-body scanners were subject to the enhanced pat-down.
In light of the growing concerns about the invasiveness of the new enhanced pat-down procedure, CAIR offers the following recommendations to Muslim travelers:
* If you opt out of the full-image body scanner, you have the right to request that the manual search be conducted in private.
* It is your right to be screened by an officer of the same gender. The TSA states in its Head-to-Toe Screening Policies: "It is TSA's policy that passengers should be screened by an officer of the same gender in a professional, respectful manner."
* If you experience any disturbing incidents with the new pat down procedure, particularly if you feel you have been subjected to religious or racial profiling, harassment or unfair treatment, immediately file a complaint with the TSA and report the incident to your local CAIR chapter.
Special recommendations for Muslim women who wear hijab:
* If you are selected for secondary screening after you go through the metal detector and it does not go off, and "sss" is not written on your boarding pass, ask the TSA officer if the reason you are being selected is because of your head scarf.
* In this situation, you may be asked to submit to a pat-down or to go through a full body scanner. If you are selected for the scanner, you may ask to go through a pat-down instead.
* Before you are patted down, you should remind the TSA officer that they are only supposed to pat down the area in question, in this scenario, your head and neck. They SHOULD NOT subject you to a full-body or partial-body pat-down.
* You may ask to be taken to a private room for the pat-down procedure.
* Instead of the pat-down, you can always request to pat down your own scarf, including head and neck area, and have the officers perform a chemical swipe of your hands.
* If you encounter any issues, ask to speak to a supervisor immediately. They are there to assist you.
I think it is humiliating to everyone- whether by groping or radiation strip search - not to mention additional radiation. I’m with the pilots on this one.
I’ll say it! ...because the “F”ing radical MUZZIES caused it. Deal with it!
Well CAIR, tell your pals to stop blowing shit up and then maybe the pat downs would not be needed.
I haven’t seen anyone mention the hygiene factor. The TSA agents wear gloves, but they don’t change their gloves from one person to another. I don’t particularly care for someone putting their gloved hand on my crotch when there’s no tellin’ where that hand has been. I don’t care if people are clothed—non-hygienic body fluids can soak through clothing.
Yo CAIR... your whining hypocritical WHACKO Co-Conspirators CAUSED all this... you ragheads stop flying, and we won't even need this security BS. Actually, CONCEALED CARRY would put an end to it...too!!!
Hey CAIR, right back at cha. You started it. We’re gonna finish it.
Look for a ‘Change in the Procedure’ any day now.
You know what will probably happen? The idiots in Washington will probably allow Muslims to opt out with out consequence. And so, what we will have then is a political correctness that won’t allow for racial profiling to attempt to catch Muslim terrorists, which results in invasive and abusive searches of EVERYONE, except for Muslims (who will be exempt from the searches).
Well, I’m sure that now that CAIR finds it offensive anything that identifies itself as a mudslime will be exempt from screening.
NEXT!
Haa haa haa. Next thing you know they’ll be exempt while the rest of us get the shaft. TSA already says turban wearers can pat down their own turbans.
Yeah, that’s just about where I see it going.
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In their fantasy world this would be objective and fair. After all, we don't won't to do anything to offend or cast the members of The Religion of Peace in a negative light.
“Instead of the pat-down, you can always request to pat down your own scarf, including head and neck area, and have the officers perform a chemical swipe of your hands.”
Is this option available to ALL?
...’’is because’’ of the F’ing Muslims THAT”S WHY!!! Thank you “Religion’ o’ Peace’’ thank you so f’ing much you 7th. century barbarians, thank you so bloody much!!
Maybe we should exempt Muslims on religious and cultural grounds.
if one chooses to dress like a terrorist ,then they should not be upset when treated like one!
PC which is in overdrive already with the TSA types will go into ultra-sesitive mode. Only well dressed, clean cut, obviously not a threat type Caucasians will be groped if they opt out. Especially airline crew members.
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