Posted on 05/07/2007 9:28:24 AM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
Muslims say when booking a flight, they feel everyone is watching them. Recently six Muslim Imams were removed from a flight in Minneapolis, sparking the national debate: is there such an issue as "flying while Muslim", racially profiling Muslims after 9-11, or is it just prudent? Toledo area Muslims are aware of the controversy and many say they are deeply offended by it.
Here is what happened: six Imams were traveling from the Minneapolis - St. Paul airport. Police say the men where praying in the airport terminal. Some witnesses said they were praying loudly. Passengers became concerned with the repeated use of the word "Allah" during the prayers. Allah is the Arabic word for God and is always recited in prayers.
In addition, passengers became alarmed with the men's seating arrangements, requests by two for seatbelt extensions and alleged discussions about the U.S. involvement in the Iraq war. Passengers reported this as "suspicious behavior". The Imams were then detained, questioned and banned from U.S. Airways flights. So did the passengers over react?
"In this situation, absolutely, they falsely reported." Dr. Zaheer Hasan from Islamic Center of Greater Toledo says flying as a Muslim is disheartening. "As I board a plane, I see all the eyes tracking me. I see numerous visits by the airline crew. It affects me, but I can bear that."
There comes the time and the place, as some Imams endured, that it is too much.
Nadeem Salem says he is always singled out for random security checks when he flies.
"There is something underneath that is driving this that is really disturbing. I do believe it is racial profiling."
The Imams have now filed discrimination suits against the airline and unnamed passengers. Opponents of the suit say suing passengers will discourage others from reporting suspicious behavior, but some Muslims think differently.
"I think if you legitimately are afraid you are going to say something and you are not going to be concerned about whether someone is going to sue you afterwards."
UT student Sarah Alfaham says the suit makes a statement.
"I think that is really important. You can't be just accusing people for no reason."
Meanwhile, attorney Chereffe Kadri has a different take on the issue. "I have a problem with everybody being the eyes and ears because not everyone is trained, not everybody is well informed."
Kadri believes people need to know more before they jump to conclusions. "If you don't know what is normal, typical or ordinary, then how do you know what is out of the ordinary?"
Muslims we talked with say feeling uncomfortable is not reason enough to be kicked off a flight. They say the government needs to better define what suspicious behavior really is. Investigations by the airline and police show the airline and ground crews acted appropriately, but so far, no ruling on the discrimination lawsuit.
Bravo, Sierra.
“Flyin’ Imams” ping.....
On or off this list, FRmail me. All requests honored.
CRY ME A FLIPPING RIVER!!!
There are airlines in the Middle East. Fly there.
All he has to do is renounce violence and make it known in the community. Then I would listen to his beefs, but not now.
wah!
Profiling remains the most effective means of keeping terrorists out of our lives. If anyone is so offended by the practice of profiling then I don’t care about their sensitivities. They need to sumbit to search or they can grow feathers and flap their arms. It’s all the same to me. They either conform to OUR SYSTEM or leave.
“All he has to do is renounce violence and make it known in the community.”
I’ll be waiting patiently right here for that.
>”Nadeem Salem says he is always singled out for random security checks when he flies.”<
Hey, I’ll make you a deal Nadeem, - get your co-religonists to stop blowing up people, and we won’t search you. Until then, STFU!
I'm 3 for 3 in getting pulled out for double-secret searching. He's right about profiling: They hate Whitey.
HELLO! Anyone home ? LOL!
1. you get a big ‘Aaaawwwwww’ from me for being ‘singled out’. If you choose Islam and Islam makes NO bones about killing innocent ‘infidels’ using our airplanes, you have no right to expect NOT to be singled out and watched closely.
2. I don’t ever recall being asked my religion when purchasing airline tickets or going through screening. I’m not Muslim, but if I were, who’d know in order to keep a close eye on me?
We are
"There is something underneath that is driving this that is really disturbing. I do believe it is racial profiling."
Well,Nadeem, it wasn't 13 Norwegians that killed 3000 of our countrymen
You can't be just accusing people for no reason
We're not "accusing" you of anything, we're just being prudent
"I have a problem with everybody being the eyes and ears because not everyone is trained, not everybody is well informed."
We're informed enough to be watching your a$$,and we're trained enough to put a pencil in your eye if you as much as go NEAR the cockpit door
HA!
I will admit, she gets annoyed as hell when there is 4 arab males...one old lady and Her...
Pat. Pat. Pat. Check her carry on for sex toys and she’s on her way.
“Sounds like a great reason to book online.”
Zero chance of advancing their agenda, if they were to do that. That’s why they won’t book online.
I get pulled about 50% of the time. 6’5” caucasian male. Not sure what kind of profile I fill, except perhaps “knucklehead who forgets his car keys are in his pocket.”
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