Muslim doctor wants apology from U.S. airline [booted for praying]

CBC News ^ | 8/19/2006 | staff

[TChris]

A Winnipeg doctor is demanding an official apology and compensation from United Airlines after being kicked off a flight in the U.S. this week, an incident he has characterized as "institutionalized discrimination." Dr. Ahmed Farooq, a Muslim, was escorted off an airplane in Denver on Tuesday. According to Farooq, reciting his evening prayers was interpreted by one passenger as an activity that was suspicious.

"The whole situation is just really frustrating," Farooq said. "It makes you uneasy, because you realize you have to essentially watch every single thing you say and do, and it's worse for people who are of colour, who are identifiable as a minority."

Farooq said the allegation came from a passenger who appeared drunk and had previously threatened him during the trip.

[TChris]

Let's see you get pulled off a plane, told there was no reason to pull you off, pay for ANOTHER plane ticket and see how happy you are.

I think we all agree that the situation sucks. But the blame for it belongs on Islamic terrorists, not United Airlines. Farooq can't just blithely ignore the past weeks, months and years of our experience with Islamists and pretend we should all ignore it too.

There is a valid reason for suspicion of Muslim passengers. And it isn't religious bigotry.

[beaversmom]

"It makes you uneasy,...

Do you think your fellow passengers felt a little uneasy?

[Lunatic Fringe]

I'm not a muslim. Therefore I'm not a terrorist. This guy was obviously a muslim and therefore a potential terrorist.

Yeah, cause white Christians NEVER commit acts of terrorism, right?

[KellyAdmirer]

A doctor I know around here who is from India is totally PO'd at the terrorists for making people who look like him automatically suspicious. I'll just say that there people from that area of the world who are reasonable about this and actually DO put the blame for this sort of thing where it belongs - around the necks of the Islamfascist murderers.

[isthisnickcool]

"It makes you uneasy, because you realize you have to essentially watch every single thing you say and do, and it's worse for people who are of colour, who are identifiable as a minority."

I live in Texas an I'm white. Which makes me a minority. Nobody hassles me when I pray. I pray silently. Here is one of my prayers:

Dear Lord, please make every mosque in the world be sucked down in to hell. Thank you...

[VRWCTexan]

For $64,000 when was the last (or first) time any of these terrorist loving muslims/arabs accepted any shred of responsibility or accountability for their own actions and decisions?

[SlayerOfBunnies]

In fairness, mine is a bit of religious bigotry. Note that I had none of this before 9/11. Tough.

[Publius6961]

Farooq said. "It makes you uneasy, because you realize you have to essentially watch every single thing you say and do, and it's worse for people who are of colour, who are identifiable as a minority."

Welcome to the world of any infidel in all 57 member countries in the Organization of Islamic Conferences...

[SlayerOfBunnies]

Well look at the odds. The closest you can come in the last decade or two is Timothy McVeigh and he was no Christian. IRA has been quiet since before 9/11 so you're out of luck there.

Naughty muslims, on the other hand, seem to have trouble going two days in a row without starting some crap with someone. It's not my fault. If your a muslim, then work to fix your bonehead religion and stop whining.

[Xenalyte]

Do you wash your feet in the restroom sink?

Now, how the hell did you see me do that? And haven't we discussed before how you're not supposed to spy on me?

Sheesh. Restraining orders don't teach some people ANYTHING these days. ;)

[beaversmom]

I don't remembering reading/hearing that Tim McVeigh blew up anything in the name of Christianity. That's a lame (can't even say argument) that people would use at DUmmie Underground.

[blam]

"I don't know, watching a ME man on the floor singing "Allah Ahkbar" would make me feel a little uncomfortable while on an airline flight. Anyone else?"

Just shoot the POS and be done with it.

[eyedigress]

That's what lavatories are for. Among other things.

[TET1968]

He should also resist walking through Harlem wearing headgear crafted from a Confederate flag. Just a suggestion.

[brownsfan]

"Yeah, cause white Christians NEVER commit acts of terrorism, right? "

Over the past 10 years, would you like to compare lists? I'll site muslim terrorism, and you can site terrorism by anyone else, as long as they aren't muslim. The ratio is greater than 10:1. If you factor in fatalities the ratio is greater than 100:1.

No, I don't suppose you want to go with factual info, just site an example or two that supports your agenda and move on. You wouldn't happen to be in the drive by media would you?

[rhombus]

Do you wash your feet in the restroom sink? Now, how the hell did you see me do that? And haven't we discussed before how you're not supposed to spy on me?

It's all part of the NSA's feet washing program. There's a tiny camera in every restroom sink, don'tcha know.

[Eagles Talon IV]

How about this. Muslims must fly only with other Muslims. Each aircraft will be escorted by a fighter. The flight plan will be drawn so that it never overflies a city, nuclear plant, dam or other structure(s) whose destruction would be disastrous. If the airline deviates from flight plan the fighter takes it down. The extra cost for these precautions will, of course, be added to the ticket price paid by the Muslims.

[Lurking in Kansas]

Maybe you aren't praying correctly...

Probably not, I just close my eyes and slightly bow my head.

But then again, as you said, here I am. ;-)

[Lunatic Fringe]

I think what we need to fix is your bigotry and your ignorance of the difference between Islam and Islamofascism.

[Publius6961]

It's too bad it happened to him, but if he has special needs at special times, he needs to work his travel schedule around that.

Well, if he's allowed in the aisle, I will suddenly get a hankering for walking up and down the aisle several times, using him as a carpet if necessary.

And since "in your face" muslim prayer is indistinguishable from assault, I might decide to either begin very loud Christian prayers myself, or anti-muslim "mohamed eats **** " chants.