Muslims Felt Singled Out During Alert

AP ^ | 1/10/04 | WAYNE PARRY

[TomServo]

BUTLER, N.J. (AP) - Rehab Elmoslemany had been at Newark Liberty International Airport for more than seven hours, waiting for a much-delayed flight to Egypt while security officials questioned her about who she was, where she was going and why.

It was after midnight on Christmas by the time she, her husband and their two children were allowed to board their flight to Alexandria for a family wedding. The kids kicked off their shoes, and 6-year-old Kareem Abdel-Kader whined that he was hungry.

Then two men walked up the aisle and ordered the family off the plane, refusing to say why or where they would be taken, she said.

"I was in my husband's arms, crying hysterically," said Elmoslemany, an Egyptian native who became an American citizen two years ago. "My son said, `What did we do? Are they taking you to jail?'"

An officer with the Joint Terrorism Task Force told Elmoslemany her name had come up as a possible match with someone on an FBI watch list. By the time the matter was cleared up, the only flight that would arrive in Egypt in time for the wedding had already taken off.

Similar scenes played out across the nation during the three weeks that that the color-coded terrorism alert was at orange, the second-highest level, indicating a high risk of a terrorist attack. The alert was lowered to yellow on Friday, but airports remain on high alert.

Authorities have said they believe terrorists will try to use an airliner in another attack on the U.S. About two dozen flights were canceled due to security fears during that period.

Many of those being scrutinized are Muslim, adding to a feeling of persecution reported by many Muslims since the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

"They treated me like a terrorist. I am not one," said Elmoslemany, a customer service representative at a Butler bank. "I am an American citizen with exactly the same rights they have."

Muslims are getting used to the scrutiny - and fed up with it, said immigration lawyer Sohail Mohammed. "Now we're about ready to say it's not worth flying every time there's one of these heightened security alerts."

But FBI Special Agent Steven Kodak defended the practice of closely screening passengers whose names are red-flagged as a possible security threat.

"We're given these names off watch lists, and when a name comes up as even a partial match - if the date of birth is different or even if the sex doesn't match - we have to take the person off and do a thorough investigation," he said. "I'm sorry that happened, but it's the price we're paying after 9-11."

Mian Zahid Ghani, a journalist with a Pakistani news agency, also has felt the effects of post-Sept. 11 precautions.

Ghani, who works in New Jersey, brought a cell phone to lunch with him in December as he and two friends discussed events in their native country, including two assassination attempts against Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf.

The cell phone accidentally auto-dialed one of its stored numbers - the New York City Police Department's media relations office - and stayed connected for 40 minutes.

Just before midnight, two New York City police officers knocked on his door, asking him to explain sounds they recorded from the call, including talk about Musharraf, a car door closing and what sounded like gunshots, he said.

"We were at a Jewish deli, having lunch. Maybe they heard a TV program in the background," Ghani said. "Do you think if there were actually bullets flying, we would be calmly talking?"

Ghani drove the two officers to the deli at 1:30 a.m., but because it was closed, none of them could see from the outside whether the deli had a television set. Then they left. He said he hasn't heard from them since.

Sgt. Steven Reich, one of the officers involved, said Ghani was not targeted by law enforcement.

"It was prompted by his mistake, by his phone calling us and staying connected for so long," Reich said. "The people there thought there might be something more to it."

[Khurkris]

Good Post. I fly a lot and fit about the same profile. And like you, I have found that a smile, a relaxed attitude and even a polite simple joke go a long way.

I see these whinners at every airport. They cause most of their own problems.

Also the nutcases who try to bring some of the weirdest things on board as carry-on. There should be a special rubber room for people who want to bring a damn 4 foot tree on board as carry on...

[Khurkris]

Good Post. I fly a lot and fit about the same profile. And like you, I have found that a smile, a relaxed attitude and even a polite simple joke go a long way.

I see these whinners at every airport. They cause most of their own problems.

Also the nutcases who try to bring some of the weirdest things on board as carry-on. There should be a special rubber room for people who want to bring a damn 4 foot tree on board as carry on...

[Dallas59]

Gee....I guess the Muslims flying this plane felt real good they weren't profiled...



NEVER FORGET.

[Oztrich Boy]

But FBI Special Agent Steven Kodak defended the practice of closely screening passengers whose names are red-flagged as a possible security threat.
"We're given these names off watch lists, and when a name comes up as even a partial match - if the date of birth is different or even if the sex doesn't match - we have to take the person off and do a thorough investigation," he said

What a maroon.

The Springfield Bear Patrol is really working great.

[Blue Collar Christian]

I'm sure there was eventually another flight back to where they can STAY!

[kaylar]

Awwwwwww, those poor wittle babies! They have it ever so much worse than do the people in the Mollucas, where whole villages have been forced to convert to the Garbage Religion on pain of death by beheading, and where every man, woman, and child so "converted" has been subjected to horrific mutilations via the same filthy razor...And soooo much worse than the girls in Australia, who were gangraped by groups of these jeering thugs, who told them that they had a right to do this as all females not adhering to the Garbage Religion are whores...And so much worse than the women of France, Norway, Denmark, Holland, where we hear of the same kind of gangrapes, PLUS the savages feel free to attack and beat outdoor revelers and women in western garb, AND where they've demanded (Demanded! DEMANDED!!!) the right to selfrule under sharia....And their sufferings in the USA far outweigh what their coreligionists are forcing upon Christian and pagan women and children in the Sudan-to wit, slavery and the obscene mutilation they so revel in. My heart truly bleeds for these creatures!

PS Anyone doubting any of the atrocities I've listed (and I'm sure there were many more I could have mentioned-I didn't mention Israel and suicide bombers for example) Click on my name and check out my FR saved bookmarks. I kept most of these stories; any I haven't kept can be easily found by google, I'm sure.

[Itzlzha]

Hey Muslims,
I'd cry for you but I am still crying over the loss of 3000 of my fellow American's and can't seem to feel too bad that you were inconvenienced for a while. I'm sure that those people would prefer to be a little inconvenienced rather than blown up by those who practice this insane religion you seem to uphold so zealously.

BRAVO!

Well said!

[HitmanLV]

Thanks! It's just one of my lessons of life that livig goes by much easier by being nice and respectful to folks. Most people get treated poorly by the customers and clients they encounter in a typical day. At the very least, they get treated like they don't exist.

It takes almost no effort by me to be warm, nice, and engaging - good humored and respectful. I swear, take that little effort and you get treated like royalty!

Just a tip to make the day go by easier.

[cardinal4]

Perhaps if the Islamic community was more vocal in denouncing the murderers in their midst they wouldnt feel singled out.

[HitmanLV]

Haha! Yea, airline security doesn't bother me. I arrive at the airport 2 hours early now, and am usually done and at the gate with PLENTY of time to spare (which I like because I am chatty and like to make friends in places like airports, etc).

I never check luggage in, so my only chore is the metal detectors. When I get there, I read the signs, take my PC out by the time I am at the table, have all my metals in my bag, take off my jacket and shoes, and I am ready to go. I've never had a bad experience at one of these scenes.

And I expect to be scruitinzed. I don't really care, like I said, it's a backhanded compliment. Somebody thinks I look like a bad hombre. I kinda like that! ;-)

[LoudRepublicangirl]

You are right. The war on terrorism should have began years ago instead of in 2001.

[10mm]

I treat Middle-Easterners/Muslims very differently than I did on 9/10/2001. I always make sure to look long and hard at any that I encounter in a public situation. If they notice my cold, lingering, analytical stare, so much the better.

I WANT them to feel uncomfortable. I WANT them to feel apprehensive. I WANT them to feel singled out. I WANT them to know that I DON'T WANT THEM in my country. If they're American citizens, let them start acting like one.

One more thing people: Spare me your posts about your "friendly" Muslim neighbor who always greets you with a smile and a wave. If they're not outright terrorists, they're either terrorist sympathizers or terrorist supporters. Don't believe me? Start talking trash about the Jews to one of them and then sit back and watch them take the ball and run. The experience is surreal.

[HitmanLV]

Sorry, GI Joe, but I don't consider any of those two examples to be 'stunts.' Maybe they were overzealous guards, but they were just following a security mandate, and they were needlessly inflexible.

I'll err on the side of overzealousness here, but I agree with you there should be compromise on their part in cases like you mention.

1. Pack the freaking medal in the luggage, soldier, and don't try and carry it on. Such an item in checked luggage wouldn't have caused a problem. Compromise means BOTH sides act sensibly and willing to give in a little. A soldier unwilling to pack the medal, insisting on weaing it or carrying it, isn't being flexible enough in my opinion.

2. I'm sure they know what medical leave is, MacArthur, but nice looking paperwork signed by a doctor could be a fake. But a compromise is in order (compromise means BOTH sides give in some, remember) - the soldier should surrender the wire cutters to a crewmember so they would be available in case of an emergency. The crew should accomodate a reasonable request like that.

3. Pray to God that your soldier-boy friends with bad attitudes better not break the laws and otherwise harass anyone in the civillian world doing their job, certainly not airport security. If they break the law, their shiny medals and ribbons won't save their arses.

And to be fair, they shouldn't.

[WV Mountain Mama]

Maybe they will get so fed up they'll GO HOME!!! Of course, if they moan loud enough, I am sure that the PC crowd will force us to open our borders as long as someone "trustworthy" vouches for them.

[lainie]

So much hate on this thread.

[Godfollow]

Guess What... I don't trust Muslims... I don't trust Islam... I would bet that anyone who isn't one doesn't trust 'em either. Tell me why I should trust muslims...

[Piranha]

Are you sure you don't mean the Chicago Tribune? It was the WORST!

[SandRat]

In the first example I cited the service member was was a retired Major General USMC from WWII and he was trying to make a reunion meeting of all living holders of the MOH and he was wearing it around his throat as he was going to the meeting from the airport and after the meeting back home no over night stay and now carry on or checked baggage. So could he have put it in a carry on not likely the security types would still have refused boarding. Could he have checked a brief case maybe.

In the second case it was a young soldier who had been shot in the face in Afghanistan losing a good piece of his jaw to the round. The injury required reconstructive surgery and his jaws being wired shut. He was traveling home to SF (that lovely home of tolerance) to spend 30 days of medical leave with his family before return to hospital and hopefully full return to active service. He traveled in uniform to SF jaws wired shut from NC with the wire cutters no problem. Returning at the end of medical leave when he attempted to go through security in the same fashion as he had traveled across the country to return to NC the geniuses at SF declared the required wire cutters (about the size of finger nail clippers illegal and confiscated them thereby willfully and negligently endangering his life should he get air sick. The young soldier even tried with the help of his parents and a sympathetic police officer to talk to the security supervisor, local senior military officials were even on the phone trying to explain this to the supervisor but he refused to even talk to any one. Oh they did say to young soldier that there would be something on the aircraft that could do the job should he get sick. A check with the flight attendants proved otherwise. There is no way he could have checked it but with a little thought on the part of the security folks they could have passed the clippers to the flight crew.

Too often since the Korean War veteran's and active service members have been treated, shall we say at the very least shabbily as a result the resentment is building and many are approaching the point of just not standing idly by and taking it any longer. At some point they will at least fight back with words, harsh words and make sure that it makes the news to the detriment of those that shabbily treated the service member.

Will they stay inside the law? Yes! Will they object loudly and strongly when they receive shabby treatment like this in the future? You can take that to the bank!

[HitmanLV]

I agree that both sides should compromise - for me it seems a simple matter to pack away a medal and plan ahead for a contingency like that. As for the wire cutters, its shameful that the crew didn't cooperate. In cases like this we are of like mind.

Compromise means both sides give and take. The airline folks have to give too. In these cases they failed - in most cases, I think things work out.

As for loudly objecting, reread one of my earlier posts. anybody why gets loud usually gets shoddier treatment. I can't blame the people who respond like that. Being nice works much better than that, and working up the chain of command when necessary helps, too.

But if you think GIs somehow deserve special treatment (truth be told, any one of us civillian or otherwise would have gotten largely the same treatment, most likely), I would disagree. Sorry, but we can't start making exceptions for people with shiny medals or a note from their doctors, just as we can't make exceptions for innocent looking grannies at the metal detector - innocent, sure, but in today's world, everyone may be a suspect.

Even a soldier.