6 imams removed from flight at Twin Cities airport, questioned

KVOA News 4 Tuscon, AZ ^ | 11-21-2006 | AP reporter Gregg Aamot

[MrCFdovnh]

MINNEAPOLIS -- Six Muslim imams on Monday were removed from a US Airways flight at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and questioned by police for several hours before being released, a leader of the group said.

The six were among passengers who boarded Flight 300, bound for Phoenix, around 6:30 p.m., airport spokesman Pat Hogan said.

A passenger initially raised concerns about the group through a note passed to a flight attendant, according to Andrea Rader, a spokeswoman for US Airways. She said police were called after the captain and airport security workers asked the men to leave the plane and the men refused.

[Sal]

Heard on the radio this morning that these six muslims are stuck in Minneapolis, because they have been put on a no-fly list...

Excellent news! I was afraid our officials would be cringing and groveling all over the place, but it looks like they're staying strong so far.

[Sender]

I have suggested that airlines place a hickory nightstick in the pocket on the back of every airline seat. That would pretty much neutralize any hijack attempt.

[From One - Many]

correct, on all aspects of your observation. I can find nothing to disagree with.

[Eroteme]

No, they were on the plane. The arabic-speaking woman evidently overheard things that concerned her while they were still inside at the gate. But the men were allowed to board. The display of praying took place on the plane, according to one of the imams himself.

Three of them stood and said their normal evening prayers together on the plane, as 1.7 billion Muslims around the world do every day, Shahin said.

[EnochPowellWasRight]

"Three of them stood and said their normal evening prayers together on the plane, as 1.7 billion Muslims around the world do every day, Shahin said."

Since when are their 1.7 billions Muslims? Last I heard, the number was more like 1.2.

Regardless, they have no right to assume that we're not going to view groups of Middle Eastern Muslims performing religious rituals in unison on an aircraft with anything other than suspicion.

[Valin]

I stand corrected then.

[EnochPowellWasRight]

their = there

[Sloth]

after the captain and airport security workers asked the men to leave the plane and the men refused.

Why released? I thought interfering/ not cooperating with a flight crew was taken pretty seriously these days.

[lawdude]

"Imams don't kill people, they send others to do it for them."

Maybe they hire Hisspanics for those jobs Imams won't do.

[jess35]

Standing is part of the "prayer cycle". They begin prayers by standing and proclaiming "God is great" blah, blah blah..kneel, prostrate themselves, lather-rinse-repeat several times, etc... There isn't enough space to do this on an airplane.

I read a couple of reports which claimed they were praying in the terminal (which I have seen before). If that's true, it does change the dynamics of the story. The airlines should be releasing more information today.

[toldyou]

"Why released? I thought interfering/ not cooperating with a flight crew was taken pretty seriously these days."

Only if you're breast feeding. (That's another FR thread.)

[RobbyS]

Can you imagine six rabbis acting in such an obnoxious manner?

[RobbyS]

The act under color of clergy, but as anyone who knows anything about Islam, they have no clergy. They deserve no more deference than six college professors, which is more like their actual role in their religion.

[Steve_Seattle]

"They act under color of clergy, but as anyone who knows anything about Islam, they have no clergy."

I have raised this point many times: the Koran prohibits a priesthood or clergy, yer the Islamic world is overrun by fanatical clerics who wield enormous power. It's time that someone told the Islamic clergy: According to your own holy book, YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Regardless, they have no right to assume that we're not going to view groups of Middle Eastern Muslims performing religious rituals in unison on an aircraft with anything other than suspicion."

Precisely, which is why I think this might have been a calculated attempt to create a "problem" that must be resolved by demanding that the airlines make special accomodations for Muslim prayer, in order to avoid future "humiliations." So we can expect - sooner or later - demands for Muslims prayer rooms in airports, or even special seating arrangements for Muslims on airplanes, maybe even a Muslim-only area, along with demands for Muslim food and a prohibition of alcoholic beverages because they are offensive to Muslims. Don't be surprised at any of this.

[zimdog]

You would be wrong.

And you would have to prove that. This is America and the burden of proof is on the accuser.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Whoo hoo! Just heard on local news that Muslims are asking fellow Muslims to not fly US Air. What idiots!

US Air is now my preferred airline. The safest way to fly!

[TennTuxedo]

If the muslim clerics and their followers would speak out loudly against Islamic terrorism, instead of remaining quiet, maybe their would not be so many people suspicious of them.

[Jedidah]

"US Air is now my preferred airline. The safest way to fly!"

No kidding.

But it's not enough for us to express our opinion on FR. We MUST tell US Air how we feel. E-mail them and say what you posted here. Buy US Air stock. Fly US Air and tell the company why. Do all you can to assure them that having a backbone won't hurt business.

[SeeSalt]

"Hooper said US Airways refused to put the men on another flight."

Get the message? Go back in your camel's country and pray with your raised butt to Allah.